It is never too early to be thinking about football. Demonstrate your patriotic spirit this Fourth of July and support the Chilton County High School football program at the same.

A fireworks stand brought forth by an effort by the Chilton County Gridiron Club opened for business on June 24 and allows residents to do just that this holiday season.

For the second straight year, Chris Smith has helped orchestrate setting up a stand near Chilton County High School in the Walmart parking lot, along with a host of members involved with the Gridiron Club and the football program.

The stand serves as a fundraiser with all proceeds from the sales going toward the Chilton County football team.

“It is always good to know where the money is going,” Smith said. “With us being in Class 6A, it takes a lot more time and money to compete.”

There are a variety of fireworks for sale from bottle rockets and firecrackers to packages that range from $20 to $150.

“Our goal this year is to sell everything,” Smith said.

According to Smith, the packages typically provide a fireworks show for 30 to 45 minutes.

The stand is run entirely by volunteers, who are mostly parents of players on the football team.

“We have a good group of parents,” Smith said. “We are all in it to support the kids any way that we can.”

Smith’s son played football and graduated from Chilton County High School, but Smith continues to support the program with a daughter in cheer and another son in the sixth grade.

The stand is supplied by TNT Fireworks, which has a “no dud” guarantee and will replace fireworks in the event that one does not detonate properly.

“We want to continue to create awareness of CCHS football and continue to shine a positive light on Chilton County as a whole,” Smith said.

The fireworks stand was also open for the New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The stand will be open to the public from noon to 9 p.m. from June 24 to June 30, noon to 10 p.m. on July 1, 10 a.m. to midnight on July 2-3 and noon to 9 p.m. on July 4.

For more information or to find out how to get involved, email cchsgridiron@hotmail.com.