Manteca is once again having a Fourth of July parade.

Thank volunteers with the Sunrise Kiwanis.

And the popular Independence Day breakfast that did double duty as a community reunion of sorts is coming back.

Thank volunteers with the Manteca Rotary picking up the tradition started by the Manteca Noon Kiwanis.

And thanking volunteers — and the service clubs many belong to — is exactly what the Sunrise Kiwanis plan to do with this year’s Independence Day parade on Tuesday, July 4.

The theme is “A Celebration Honoring Service in the Community”.

Parada Chair Monica Mendoza is hopeful it will inspire clubs or individuals to take advantage of the parade’s free entries to honor volunteers with either decorated vehicles or floats.

“There is a need for people to be involved,” Mendoza said. “We wouldn’t have parades (and other community events and services) without them.”

Mendoza noted between growth, the lingering impacts from the pandemic shutdowns and the fact many volunteers in existing service clubs and non-profits ranging from the Boys & Girls Club to Kiwanis to Rotary to Soroptimists and others are aging means organizations are struggling to secure volunteers they need.

The deadline to enter the parade is noon on June 29.

There is no entry fee as the Kiwanis underwrite associated costs from their staging of the annual Manteca Pumpkin Fair. It is one of more than $40,000 in an average year in support the service club gives the community as the result of the Pumpkin Fair.

Mendoza joined the Kiwanis 5 years ago to lend her share of time to helping provide “Manteca with the things that make Manteca what it is for Mantecans.”
“We lost the Memorial Weekend event5 because there weren’t enough volunteers,” Mendoza noted.

She added planning such events — including the Pumpkin Fair — also requires some volunteers to work on them as much as a year in advance and not just help the days they take place.

The Manteca Rotary will be bringing back the breakfast that typically attracts between 500 and 600 people.

It will be held at a different venue — Mt. Mike’s Pizza — directly across Louise Avenue from the staging for the parade.

The prices have yet to be set.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. It will go down Main Street from Golden West School.  It then turns right to head west to Library Park where it will disperse.

For more parade information and entry forms go to sunrisekiwanis.org

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com