Dundas Youth Program all fired up
Firefighter Sean Whelan of the North Dundas Fire Service showed off the many components of the fire truck to Grayce MacMillan and Sebastian Blois. Checking things out as well were Touch a Truck organizers Shelby Beckstead (left) and Jessica Carty. Sawyer Helmer photo
Kalynn Sawyer Helmer
Record Staff
WINCHESTER – Jessica Carty and Shelby Beckstead of the Dundas Youth Program were the main organizers for this year’s Touch a Truck fundraising event on Sat., June 10. The event began under the direction of Kaitlin Herfkens but switched to new hands as Herfkens takes time away on maternity leave.
Carty and Beckstead expressed their desire to live up to the high standards set by Herfkens in the previous years and hoped to add their own spin on the event.
New this year were the addition of local vendors for parents to browse while little ones checked out the many trucks, water play features and other activities. All of the money raised from the event will go directly to the Dundas Youth Program and Carty and Beckstead thanked the many donors who helped bring the event together. The event was sponsored by Carty Appraisals and Beckstead Heavy Equipment, while House of Lazarus donated much of the hotdogs and drinks for the barbecue.
Under Carty and Beckstead, the youth program has seen record numbers at the weekly programs, around 40 youth per dinner. The ladies added that they hope to incorporate field trips to the summer program and more activities in the community.
Trucks were donated to the event for the day from the Dundas Fire Station, Case, Weagents, a city dump truck and a military vehicle which Carty and Beckstead were quite proud of, after filling out the many forms and requirements to have the vehicle on site.
The event raised a total of $3,197.85 for the youth program.
