FILLMORE : Fireworks Sales Aid Nonprofit Groups’ Plans

Lava Cones, White Smoke Balls and Solar Flares that sold so briskly in the week preceding the Fourth of July were being boxed up Tuesday, taped closed and stored for the next 12 months.

Fillmore volunteers, who worked almost around the clock during the seven days leading up to July 4 to raise money for local nonprofit groups, spent Tuesday clearing out the 21 temporary booths that had lined California 126.

“This was only our second year doing it, but we made about 20% more (money) than we did last time,” said Chris Villegas, cleaning the booth sponsored by the Fillmore High School Grad Nite Live program.

“We raised about $6,000--well over half of what we needed,” Villegas said. “So that’s really good.”

Villegas said Grad Nite Live raises about $12,000 a year to fund an alcohol- and drug-free graduation night harbor cruise for Fillmore High seniors every June. But without the fireworks sales, the group could never afford such an expensive party, she said.

Just down the highway from Villegas, Anna Hipple and Barbara Harm were busy closing up their shop, which they said netted more than $10,000 for the Citrus Valley Christian Center.

“We’ve been talking about getting a new copy machine for the church,” Hipple said, looking over a shelf of leftover fireworks.

After volunteering as many as 15 hours a day inside the plywood fireworks booth, Harm would sleep inside a nearby camper.

“It was great getting to see the people,” Harm said. “It’s kind of where the community all comes together.”

Bill Faith, who organized the booth for the Fillmore Little League, said he dressed up his stand with holiday decorations and played patriotic music to attract fireworks buyers.

“We had the flags out, it was colorful and we heard a lot of positive (comments),” Faith said. “We exceeded our expectations and made about 10% more than we did last year.”

The only city in Ventura County to allow fireworks sales, Fillmore generated tens of thousands of dollars for its local nonprofit groups.

“We were thrilled to be a part of it, and that we can put our kids through another year of organized sports activity,” Faith said.