LAKE RIDGE, Va. — Volunteers at Woodbridge Senior High School are trying to bounce back after someone vandalized their fireworks stand.
The Woodbridge Viking Band Boosters raise funds for their yearly programs like marching band, drumline, and indoor guard, just to name a few, with money from an annual fireworks stand that is set up each summer in the school’s parking lot.
Overnight on Tuesday, someone went to the fireworks stand, kicked in the door, and when they found no fireworks inside, went to an adjacent trailer, forced open its door, and then stole $2,500 worth of fireworks.
With the damage to the fireworks stand, and from vandals pouring bleach on the fireworks they decided they didn’t want, the total damage topped $7,500.
“They were not just stealing from us, they were stealing from the students at the school, and that’s the most heart-wrenching part about all of this — to know someone out there would do that,” said Woodbridge Senior High School Band Booster President Nancy Ro.
The vandals hit sometime between 9 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. Tuesday. Since then, volunteer students and parents have picked up the mess, and the community has stepped up to help them out.
After the vandalism, many people that have come to purchase fireworks have donated extra money to help make up for the school’s loss. On Friday, one woman donated $50 and didn’t purchase a single firework.
“I’m a parent and I know it takes a lot of money to run one of these things, and a bookkeeper so I know the cost of something like this,” said Julie Silverman, of Lake Ridge.
An area resident since 1987, all of Silverman’s children went to Woodbridge Senior High School, so supporting the band boosters in a time of need was the least she could do.
The volunteers said they hope to sell their remaining fireworks. The stand, at the corner of Old Bridge and Antietam roads in Lake Ridge, will be open this weekend from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday and Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and on Thursday which is July 4.
