Monday, November 10, 2025
45 ° Cloudy
45 ° Cloudy
Falls Township’s Community Park was filled with the roar of engines, the honk of horns, and the laughter of children on Saturday, September 20, as thousands of families turned out for the township’s 9th annual Touch a Truck event. The popular fundraiser collected $26,000, which was split evenly between two local beneficiaries: The Goofy Gators, a Levittown-based nonprofit supporting families affected by autism, and the Pennsbury School District’s elementary Parent Teacher Organizations. Each received a $13,000 contribution to continue their work supporting children and families.
For Supervisor Jeff Boraski, who has overseen the event since it began in 2017, the day was about much more than fundraising. “Our original purpose was just to have a family-friendly, all-inclusive event where kids could get comfortable around the trucks used by tradesmen,” Boraski explained. “Obviously, the trades are a big part of my life—I’m a union electrician by trade, and my oldest son works in the trades too. It’s a nice way for kids to explore and maybe get interested in these careers by seeing the equipment up close.”
The event, which ran from 9 am to 1 pm, gave children a rare opportunity to climb inside vehicles they usually only see from a distance. Fire trucks, construction equipment, school buses, electrical trucks, farming machinery, and even township mowers were opened up for exploration. “Almost every vendor has a display that kids can climb on, touch, blow the horn—kids love blowing the airhorns—or just explore,” Boraski said. “Parents are often as excited as their kids to get a close-up look at the equipment.”
One of the unique features of Touch a Truck is its commitment to inclusion. In response to community feedback, the township introduced a sensory-friendly “quiet hour” from 9 to 10 am four years ago. During that first hour, trucks refrained from flashing their lights, sounding their horns, or running generators.
“A few years ago, I got emails from parents saying how great the event was but mentioning the noise level and flashing lights,” Boraski recalled. “So, after talking with the committee, we decided to try a quiet hour. It’s the same event, but without the noise and distractions. It’s been about four years now, and it’s become an important part of making sure this event is for everyone.”
Touch a Truck also doubled as a learning opportunity. In addition to the dozens of commercial and construction vehicles, three local fire companies—Fairless Hills Fire Department, Levittown Fire Company #1, and Falls Township Fire Company—were on hand. The Falls Township Fire Marshal’s Department brought its smoke trailer, where children practiced crawling beneath non-toxic smoke and climbing through windows to simulate what to do in case of a fire.
“That smoke trailer is a big draw every year,” Boraski said. “Kids learn to crawl under the smoke, how to look for exits, and what to do if they were in their house during a fire. It’s interactive and educational, and we always have fire marshals there to walk them through it.”
When Touch a Truck began, it was never intended to be a fundraiser. “When we first started this event, we raised about $1,000, and I don’t even remember if that was just from donations,” Boraski admitted. “The second year we thought we could build on that, and it’s evolved since then. The last four years are when we’ve really raised substantial amounts of money.”
This year’s $26,000 contribution brought the total raised since 2017 to more than $144,000, all of which has been donated to local charities. “It’s always been important to me that we keep the money we raise right here in our area,” Boraski said. “That’s why this year we chose The Goofy Gators and the Pennsbury PTOs. Whether it’s for playground equipment, gym equipment, or something else, it directly benefits kids in our community.”
For The Goofy Gators, the support will help the organization continue its mission of supporting families of children with autism. For Pennsbury’s PTOs, the funds can be used for resources such as exercise equipment, basketball courts, or other projects that enrich students’ daily school experience. “We don’t tell them what to do with the money,” Boraski added. “We just suggest ways it could help the kids.”
The success of Touch a Truck relied heavily on community and business support. More than two dozen companies and organizations brought vehicles.
The event also featured balloon artistry, bounce houses, a scavenger hunt hosted by The Goofy Gators, and food vendors including Kona Ice and Breakfast, Burgers and More.
“It’s an event where we don’t really have to ask people twice,” Boraski said. “Contractors, fire companies, construction companies—they love being involved. People want to be here. We fill up fast, and the parking lot gets full.”
For Boraski, this year’s Touch a Truck carried special meaning since his term as township supervisor will end December 31. Reflecting on nearly a decade of Touch a Truck, he called the event a highlight of his public service.
“It’s by far been the best thing I’ve been able to do as a township supervisor,” he said. “We started with a small idea, and it’s grown into something that families look forward to every year. I want people to truly enjoy the day out and what we do. To me, this is the best event in Falls Township—it’s the total package.”
Even as he prepares to step down, Boraski expressed confidence that Touch a Truck will continue to thrive. “It’s evolved into something much bigger than I ever thought,” he said. “And the best part is that it helps kids and families right here in our community.”
