Fireworks fund-raising fizzling thus far

To most people, $10,000 is a fair amount of money, except if you have a $15,000 goal with time running short. That’s the position the Hannibal Jaycees find themselves in just days ahead of their annual July 4 fireworks show.
“We are roughly at $10,000 right now,” said Jennifer Foster, fireworks fund-raising chairwoman this year for the Jaycees, adding that typically the civic organization is within approximately $2,000 of its goal.
At a comparable point last year the Jaycees were still $7,000 from their goal. However, fund-raising is far more challenging in 2009 than it was in 2008 because of the economy.
“Everybody has cut back,” said Foster. “We keep track of the donations that we get from year to year. The same people have donated again this year but it’s a little less.”
This year’s fund-raising efforts have not been as productive as it might sound.
“The bad thing is we started off with a little bit of money in our pocket. The total money we have raised is probably $7,000. That’s all the donations we have gotten this year,” said Foster.
Foster is keeping her fingers crossed that more money will be raised in the days ahead.
“There are a few people we haven’t gotten donations from yet,” she said.
Bucket brigades will be sent out to collect money both during the July 4 parade and during the fireworks show that night.
“We’re hoping for $5, $2, $10, whatever anybody can donate. We need it,” said Foster.
A fireworks shortfall will come out of Jaycees’ coffers.
“We don’t know how we’d continue on for the next year because we live off of Tom Sawyer Days,” said Foster. “Through the year it pays for our electric, water, gas, plus all the costs ahead of time for Tom Sawyer Days.”
Persons wishing to make a donation may send it to: Hannibal Jaycees, Fireworks Fund, P.O. Box 484, Hannibal, Mo. 63401.
“We just really need their (public’s) support,” said Foster. “The Hannibal Jaycees want to continue shooting off the spectacular for our community each year. We just really need their support to continue this tradition.”