This is an update on a previous story involving a youth track club’s fundraising efforts.
—-
After the 55 mph sustained winds in the early Tuesday morning storm, TNT Fireworks sales were halted at the Junction City Walmart.
The small, local club has less than 25 athletes from Fort Riley, Junction City and Chapman. Heading in to the regional meet on July 9th and 10th, almost all of those athletes are poised to advance to the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic National Championships in Sacramento, California.
The athletes range in age from five to eighteen.
Unlike some of the other Fireworks tents in the area, all of the proceeds are going to7ward helping all of the qualifying athletes afford the week long trip to California. Expenses for the trip include plane tickets, hotels, mini-bus/van rental, and food for the athletes.
After assessing the damage this morning, TNT Area Manager for Kansas and Northwest Missouri, Tammy Werner, says that it’s devastating that this happened but they are eager to get them running again very soon.
“We cover them with a million dollar insurance policy because we can’t predict the weather; so, when something like this happens and they’re wiped out and they have no inventory left – it’s 100% covered. We’ll get another truck out here with more product, if not the same product and we get them up and running,” said Werner.
Likely the type of tent is to blame in it’s collapse. Due to regulations in the contract TNT has with Walmart, not only is a framed tent nearly $2000 more than a staked tent, it also comes with a unique set of challenges if they tenting company doesn’t set it up correctly.
“I wouldn’t use this type of tent if I didn’t have to because it’s a framed tent and it’s weighted down. Walmart chooses not to let us stake in their parking lot and we have to follow our regulations because we have a contract with Walmart – but the only reason why this tent would collapse is because of the weights that are on [the tent],” said Werner.
A new shipment of merchandise will come tomorrow to help keep the track club on target for their fundraising goals. The sales at the TNT tent inside the Junction City Walmart parking lot will resume tomorrow after 4:00 pm and continue through June 5th.
There are freebies with larger purchases as well as a raffle for a supersized fireworks package.
If you don’t want to purchase any fireworks, they are accepting donations at the tent.