Frazer Volunteer Fire Department No. 2 plans Touch-A-Truck fundraiser Saturday

Frazer Volunteer Fire Department No. 2 invites the public to take a closer look at its emergency service vehicles during the second annual Touch-A-Truck event Saturday.

First responders, tow trucks, SWAT trucks, construction vehicles and 12 food trucks will be on-site in the Pittsburgh Mills mall parking lot.

Community members will be able to sit in the vehicles, talk to first responders and take pictures. The Frazer Police Department will be on hand to scan children’s fingerprints, which can be used to help locate a child who goes missing, Shoop said.

To raise funds, 50/50 raffle baskets, tip board raffles and meatball hoagies will be available to purchase.

“This is just to get the community together to hang out and know there is a local fire department,” Shoop said.

Shoop said the event became popular during covid because everything had to be outdoors to ensure safety. An estimated 1,000 people came out to the event to see the vehicles during the first annual Touch-A-Truck last year, she said.

“I feel like this year will be a good turnout as long as it doesn’t rain,” she said.

The event aims to raise money for the fire department to help pay for gear and safety equipment. She said she hopes they can raise $10,000 but a few thousand would make her happy.

Volunteer firefighter Amber Renwick said she enjoys being able to interact with the community, especially the children. The kids have a ball, she said.

“It’s nice they (parents) trust us enough to show the kids things,” Renwick said.

Renwick said events like these help show the community that firefighters also are human. Sometimes firefighters will don their gear to gain kids’ trust and show them who to look out for in certain situations, Renwick said.

“It helps our community, and it’s nice to see everyone out there supporting our local fire department,” she said.