14 nonprofits draw fireworks booth

Sales begin June 28

Even though it is possibly the best fundraiser for a non-profit group to hold, selling fireworks for a full week is a long, hot and demanding assignment.

Even though it is possibly the best fundraiser for a nonprofit group to hold, selling fireworks for a full week is a long, hot and demanding assignment.

Still, 17 non-profits vied Friday for 14 booths during the annual Porterville Fire Department lottery drawing.

Fire Battallion Chief Mitch Sandoval said only 17 nonprofits applied for a booth this year, the lowest number of applications in more than a decade. Only 14 were awarded a booth — the number allowed by the city based on population — and the remaining three are alternates in case one of the non-profits drops out.

Sandoval said sales are only allowed June 28 through 10 p.m. on July 4.

The fireworks booths are profitable, said Jennifer Schnell with TNT Fireworks, one of two vendors available to the local groups. She said on average, a booth grosses more than $20,000 and for their efforts, the non-profits net about $7,000 on average.

This year, the booths will be open from noon on June 28 until 10 p.m. on July 4.

Because there are so few applicants, the non-profits are not guaranteed the same spot each year. Schnell said they will get to chose their location based on their place in the lottery.

The booths can be open daily 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 29July 4. Fireworks are only allowed in the city during that same time frame — June 28July 4. This year, the Fourth falls on a Tuesday.

Winning booths (in order drawn) were:

1. Ministerio Palabra Viva

2. Valley Oak Community Church

3. Summit Charter Academy PTO

4. Optimist Club of Porterville

5. First Assembly of God Church

6. Granite Hills High School Football

7. Monache Band Parents Association 8. South Valley Chivas 9. Porterville Emblem Club No. 82

10. Porterville Apostolic Assembly 11. New Life Center 12. Monache Gridiron Boosters 13. Juventus Soccer Club 14. Porterville Chamber of Commerce

The following organizations will be put on an eligibility list and will be called in the event that one of the above 14 groups is not approved for the sale of Safe and Sane fireworks: 15. 5th Quarter Football 16. Porterville Youth Soccer

17. Imagine Arts Center