By Marisa Dawson

As thousands of fireworks lit up the skies over Bennington this Independence Day, two local organizations were working behind the scenes to make the celebration possible while raising money to support the community all year long.

The Bennington Jaycees and American Legion Post 266 once again operated their annual fireworks stands, continuing traditions that have spanned decades. While customers come for sparklers, novelty items and aerial displays, every purchase also helps fund scholarships, youth programs, community events and veteran programs throughout Bennington.

For both organizations, the stands represent one of their largest fundraisers of the year.

The Jaycees have operated a fireworks stand since approximately the mid-1990s. Sheri Crawford, who has managed the stand since 2017, said the fundraiser provides the financial foundation for nearly everything the organization does.

“The fireworks stand is the Jaycees’ primary source of fundraising, providing the support needed to host our events and activities throughout the year,” Crawford said.

This past year, proceeds helped fund the Jaycees’ Trunk or Treat event, Easter egg hunt and Christmas adopted families program. The organization also awarded scholarships to three graduating seniors and donated to an Eagle Scout project, a youth mission trip, the Bennington High School dance, girls basketball and girls wrestling teams, and the Bennington Mountain Biking Club.

Like many community fundraisers, the stand depends heavily on volunteers.

“It takes a lot of volunteers to run the stand,” Crawford said. “Members of the Jaycees volunteer. We also ask the high school dance team and other students looking for volunteer hours required for graduation.”

The American Legion Post 266 fireworks stand has an equally long history. While Legion member Deb Niesen wasn’t certain exactly when it began, she estimated the Legion has been selling fireworks in Bennington for more than 30 years.

The fundraiser allows the Legion to invest back into both veterans’ programs and the broader community.

“It’s important to the Legion as we can support the community in different ways,” Niesen said.

Proceeds help sponsor Bennington’s American Legion Post 266 baseball program, support Nebraska Boys State and other youth leadership programs, assist the Legion Auxiliary, and fund improvements to the Legion building so it can continue serving as a community gathering space. The organization also supports local initiatives, including The Bennington Buzz.

Running the stand also takes a significant volunteer effort.

“The majority of the volunteers are Legion members,” Niesen said. “There’s probably 20 of us that are consistent volunteers.”

Additional volunteers come from the Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and members of the Legion baseball program, which benefits directly from the fundraiser. Legion members say this wouldn’t be possible without the baseball team helping to unload and load fireworks at the beginning and end of the fundraiser year after year.

Although each stand offers products from different suppliers, both organizations see many of the same customer favorites year after year. The Jaycees additionally have another way of supporting locals through their stand. Their supplier is Independence Pyro Co, operated by local professional pyrotechnician and BHS Vocal Music teacher Tye Hanke.

For the Jaycees, Crawford said novelty items remain especially popular.

“The pooping dogs have been very popular, or the poop emoji,” she said. “A lot of people like the multi-shot nighttime fireworks.”

At the Legion stand, Niesen said classic items continue to draw families.

“The ones that seem to always go well are the kids stuff — the novelty items, the snappers, the naughty dogs, chicken balloons, that type of stuff,” she said. “And then the smoke, that’s a popular one, along with the sparklers.”

Many customers also seek out the larger aerial displays, with some returning each year to purchase their favorite premium fireworks.

Beyond the products themselves, both organizations say many customers intentionally choose their stands because they know the proceeds stay in Bennington.

“A lot of people say they come back here every year,” Niesen said. “They do it because they enjoy supporting the Legion and they know the money does go back into the community in different ways.”

For Crawford, that local support is what makes the fundraiser possible.

“The community’s support means everything,” she said. “Without the community we would not be able to support as many people as we have. We are a nonprofit organization, so everything we make goes right back into our community.”

Both organizations also hope the annual fundraiser encourages new volunteers and members to become involved.

“The Jaycees are always looking for new members,” Crawford said. “We are looking for young families wanting to get involved in the community.”

Similarly, Niesen encouraged eligible residents to consider joining one of the Legion family organizations.

“If you have a parent or a grandparent that served in the military, you’re eligible to join either the Auxiliary or the Sons,” she said. “And if you yourself served in the military or reserves, you’re eligible to join the Legion. As our population ages here in the Legion, we need younger people to step up and continue the legacy and history.”

While the fireworks themselves may last only a few moments in the night sky, the impact of the community’s support continues throughout the year as proceeds from both stands help strengthen organizations, programs and opportunities across Bennington.