With cars parked bumper to bumper up Charge Pond Road and non-stop honking flowing through the trees, children exited the parking lot of Landscapes by D&J with looks of joy on painted faces.

The third annual Touch-a-Truck event was held Saturday, Sept. 13 to benefit Shane Gives Thanks Food Pantry and Turning Point. Food trucks, large vehicles and vendors filled the space alongside the biggest crowds D&J had seen yet.

Director of Administration, Trish Means, was helping at the event and said it existed to give back to the community in a fun way. 

"This is what we do," she said. "We have a fun day for the community to come and join us. I think this will be the biggest year."

With more activities, trucks and food Means said that the event grows every year.

"It brings tears to my eyes. It's a great to help these organizations and for us to give to them and the community — it's just everything." she said. 

Those in attendance could sit in big rig trucks, fire trucks and even construction equipment. As lines formed at hair braiding and face painting, guests could also take pictures with Spiderman or climb obstacle courses. 

Classmates Ariana Priestly and Mila Morrison were giving each other hugs in the line for glitter tattoos. Although the pair didn't attend together, fate had them playing in the bubble machine at the same time.

Mila said her favorite thing about the event was being able to blow the horn on a tractor, which she said she could drive. 

"I'd drive it to a corn stalk," she said. 

Ariana said her favorite thing was sitting in the fire truck. Under the guidance and whispers of Mila, she had more materialistic ideas if she could drive.

"I would drive it to the mall," she said. "And fill it with a bajillion dollars."

Owner of D&J, Tiffanie Sergi was busy whipping up cotton candy for guests. With fluffs of sugar stuck in her hair, she said she was more than pleased with how the event turned out.

"I'm so happy," she said. "I do it for the community, so to have everyone show up it just means so much."

The event started with Turning Point as a Christmas donation drive and snowballed into the hours-long, fun-filled event it is today. Sergi said she's been helping support the organization ever since.

"My goal is to be bigger and better every year," she said.