By: Jarret Romanello, The St. Lucie Post
Photos: Brandon Berry, PIO St. Lucie Sheriff’s PAL; Officer Damian Spotts, Fort Pierce Police Department
Everything from low riders to low boys showed up to the St. Lucie Sheriff PAL Center parking lot Friday night to drop off gifts for kids in need at the Dunn’s Kids Foundation Touch a Heart Truck Show.
Howard Dunn supports youth agricultural programs and purchases a swine each year from 4H and FFA students at the St. Lucie, Indian River, and South Florida Fair. Last year, he started Dunn’s Kids Foundation to help more kids and decided to have a truck show to help spread cheer this Holiday Season.
Each truck’s crew brought unwrapped gifts to compete in the five-category show: street legal, not street legal, small commercial, large commercial, and ugly truck. Dunn’s Kids Foundation will deliver the gifts this December to make Christmas memorable for families in need.
Over 160 trucks filled the shopping center at US Hwy 1 and Virginia Avenue in Fort Pierce. Vendors, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and local businesses all joined in the festive atmosphere. Santa Claus – spending his summer vacation in Fort Pierce, even stopped by.
Show goers paid $ 1 per vote for their favorite truck, and all money collected goes toward purchasing more toys in December. At the end of the night, Dunn left with a 27-foot trailer in tow filled with gifts. “I’m overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community,” Dunn said.
All Hooked Up Towing and Recovery took the top prize raising the most money in the large commercial class. Colonial Metal Works made custom awards for the show’s winners.
St. Lucie Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Brian Hester brought his wife Ginger and daughter Hannah to the event. “It’s great to see so many people come out to bring joy to families that need help,” Hester said.
Dunn plans to hold a bigger truck show next year. “Tonight, kids got to touch big trucks, and come December; we will be touching their hearts,” Dunn said.