Santa Maria’s Safe & Sane Fireworks Sales Benefit Non-Profits Like Youth Athletics
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) - The sales of 'safe and sane' fireworks in Santa Maria are directly helping local non-profits.
Inflation may force some folks to think about which booth to buy from.
There are 23 non-profit organizations running fireworks booths within the city limits of Santa Maria.
“It's no lie, everything is going up,” says Vlad Cruz with Central Coast Surf Soccer Club. “So what used to cost less a couple years ago is more expensive now.”
Each non-profit has their own unique mission in the community, and a purchase at their booth makes a contribution toward their goals.
“This money goes towards the players,” says Cruz. “It goes in the form of uniforms, registrations, fields, which is one of the major things right now.”
For example, the Central Coast Surf Soccer Club sells TNT fireworks and facilitates soccer game play for all ages of communities from Santa Barbara to Paso Robles.
“We're giving away the biggest firework that we actually have,” says Cruz. “It's called ‘The Big Bang,’ $799. We're giving that away with every purchase of $100. So for example, you purchase $200, you get two tickets. Raffle is on July 4th at 2 p.m. through our Instagram account.
Only a few feet away in the same parking lot on broadway, the Chee-Hoo Foundation is partnered with Phantom fireworks, and they support athletics programs specifically for Pacific Islanders.
“It helps the future generation, and Polynesian generation or who else, students who want to go play up in the next level,” says Mark Taito with the Chee-Hoo Foundation.
Fireworks booth operators say choosing which booth to buy from is not necessarily a decision many people think very hard about, but they might be this year due to inflation.
“Shout out to every Samoan in Santa Maria,” says Taito. “Everyone back home in American Samoa. Come by some Chee-Hoo fireworks here and let's enjoy the 4th of July.”
Two primary fireworks companies, Phantom and TNT, provide the products to the non-profits.
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