Fourteen Manteca non-profits won the lottery Wednesday.

They each secured a chance at raising thousands of dollars by selling fireworks the week before the Fourth of July.

The drawing from nearly two dozen non-profits entered in the annual lottery took place in the council chambers at the Civic Center and was conducted by Fire Department Administrative Assistant Debbie Williams and City Clerk Joann Tilton.

The non-profits securing the right to sell fireworks are Manteca Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Baptist Church, Manteca Youth Focus, Freedom Christian Center, Christian Worship Center, Welcome Home Heroes Foundation, Prayer Valley Family Worship Church, Manteca Women of the Moose, South County Crisis Center, Delta Rebels Youth Football, Journey Church, Anderson 209 BMX, Manteca Chamber of Commerce, and His Way Recovery House. The first alternate is Calvary Community Church and the second alternate is McFall-Grisham American Legion Post 249.

 During the past eight years the 14 booths have collectively grossed between $380,000 and $500,000 annually. Typically a non-profit can net upwards of 50 percent of its gross after expenses are deducted such as the price of rent, the fireworks, and other related expenses.

The amount of sales, though has dropped steadily since the first year that they were legal in Manteca. That’s because nearby cities such as Stockton Lathrop, and Ripon, have been making it legal to sell fireworks as well .

Councilman Vince Hernandez is credited with leading the effort to allow the legal sale of fireworks. His argument eight years ago was that non-profits could benefit greatly. He also argued it made no sense as many Manteca families simply drove to nearby cities such as Modesto that legally sold them and then returned to Manteca to illegally discharge them.