Monday, Jun. 30, 2008

Nonprofits look to fill their coffers this week

TURLOCK -- On a prime patch of real estate, where Geer Road crosses Monte Vista Avenue, parents of Central Valley Aquatics swimmers unloaded boxes of Jack Pots, Mini Monsters, Rustlers and Crazy Eyeballs.

Fireworks week is here. Stands have sprung up across the state and were allowed to begin sales at noon Saturday.

Brett Grenz, whose daughter swims in the year-round aquatics club, tacked "no smoking" signs to the plywood and chicken-wire booth early Sunday afternoon. His wife, Sarina, and their friend Krista Bishop unpacked boxes from an old horse trailer.

"I need a cash box! I need a calculator!" Sarina Grenz called out.

The club netted more than $6,000 last year from one stand and added a second this year by Costco, west of Highway 99.

"There's not a whole lot a nonprofit can do that earns this much money in one shot," Sarina Grenz said. "We earn 50 percent of our budget here."

Worried by Gov. Schwarzenegger's consideration of banning fireworks as more than 1,000 wildfires raged across the state, Brett Grenz called the governor's office. Grenz's fireworks supplier, TNT, had e-mailed the phone number and talking points to its buyers.

Central Valley Aquatics opened its stand Sunday, and shortly afterward, its first customer showed up, cash in hand. Clad in black Ray-Bans, backward ball cap and an AC/DC T-shirt, Mat Tornquist of Mountain View forked over $126 for The Big Timer package deal and assorted smaller items. He said he'll take them to a July Fourth barbecue in Grass Valley or maybe a family party in San Luis Obispo.

"There's got to be some Piccolo Petes in here," he said, poking at the variety pack. "They're my favorite."

"Except they're not legal in Turlock," Brett Grenz told him. (Piccolo Petes can be easily modified to explode.) "But you can run down the road to Denair."

Local control over sales

Cities and counties decide what can be sold, where it can be sold, the level of inspection and rules of compliance, such as fire extinguisher placement. There are permits, meetings and specialized rules whatever the place. Most stands rent the ground they sit on. The aquatic club paid Bright Homes $500 to sit on an undeveloped lot at the busy intersection.

For many churches, school groups and nonprofits, selling fireworks is their only fund- raiser of the year.

Ryne Conder, Central Valley regional manager for Phantom Fireworks, works all year for this seven-day fireworks season. His north Modesto warehouse disperses millions of dollars of fireworks from Manteca to Bakersfield. Thousands of cases stacked 8 feet high clutter the 26,000-square-foot building.

"Sales depend on the day of the Fourth," Conder said. Last year, it was a Wednesday and sales were down, but it falls on Friday this year and Phantom expects strong results.

"We can't do anything about the mother that puts a hand-held in her 5-year-old's hand, but if they're used safely, they've never been safer," he said.

'Safe and Sane' fireworks

All California fireworks are marked "Safe and Sane" and don't fly, shoot or explode. They're made to sit still, make noise and spray colorful sparks into the air.

Central Valley High Athletic Boosters has a stand in the Raley's parking lot on Hatch Road in Ceres.

"Things have been slow, but it usually is early on," said Glen Carrillo, sitting in a camping chair, alone in the booth. "Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, we'll be swamped."

Carrillo said the governor's grudging approval may hurt sales. The economy is another factor. Less money to burn could dampen sales. Then again, fewer people traveling for the long weekend could mean dollars spent locally on driveway fireworks displays, he said.

"I'm confident sales will do well," Carrillo said, "but really you never know."

Tami Steenburgh, who acts as treasurer for the Family Christian Center's fireworks stand in the Safeway parking lot on McHenry Avenue in Modesto, knows her group is doing well. Saturday, sales were an all-time high, almost 25 percent more than its best year. The first sale of the day was a $500 package.

"Not everyone goes to church. Not everyone has kids in school. Not everyone has kids in football, cheerleading," Steenburgh said. "For those people who don't donate to charities, this is the way they donate. This is the way they support their community."

Bee staff writer Michael R. Shea can be reached at mshea@modbee.com or 578-2391.