Mission Fields Apostolic Church is in dire need of an air conditioning unit.

Sierra High’s Class of 2019 is already thinking about its Sober Graduation Party.

Both could get a big chunk funding towards those goals by selling safe-and-sane fireworks.

“We really need air conditioning,” said Phillip Soria of the Lathrop church located at 17318 Murphy Parkway.

Thursday was the first day of fireworks sales.

Soria along with his brother Brian Soria were stocking the shelves at their Phantom Fireworks booth in the La Reina in the La Reina Market parking lot on the corner of East Louise Avenue and Fifth Street.

This is the second straight year that Mission Fields has operated the booth in this area. “We did pretty good last year,” Soria said.

Joanna Taylor is hoping likewise for the SHS Sober Grad booth in the First Christian Manteca Church parking lot on the corner of North Union Road and West Louise Avenue.

SHS Sober Grad was among the first ones picked this year to do this fundraising project – a lottery determines which nonprofit groups would be allowed to sell the fireworks.

“We were happy when we found out that we were selected,” said Taylor, whose youngest son Jimmy is a senior at SHS.

She’s also cautiously optimistic on the profits from this year’s firework sales – the goal is to raise money for the all-night Sober Grad party to again take place at John’s Incredible Pizza in Modesto.

Previous Sober Graduation groups have held golf tournaments and pie sales to help defray cost.

“Right now, we’re still planning to do other fundraisers,” said Taylor, who noted that 25 to 30 volunteers will be helping out with the sales of fireworks between now and the Fourth of July on Wednesday.

The Sober Grad booth will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.