MORGAN HILL, Calif. -- Volunteers searching for missing Morgan Hill teen Sierra LaMar said they were turned down from putting a booth up at the upcoming Gilroy Garlic Festival.
Mary Doering was a volunteer at the Sierra LaMar booth earlier this year at the Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival and said there wasn't any issue there so she was shocked when the Gilroy Garlic Festival said no to a booth at their event. "This is part of a family tragedy and this is in your own backyard," said Doering.
"This family still needs resolution. We need to find her, we need people to understand that we need help and we need volunteers to come out," said Doering.
Sierra LaMar volunteers inquired about a spot about a month ago but the problem is the space is already completely packed with more than 150 booths. Garlic Festival organizers said those spots were filled by March and there is always a waiting list. "It might seem a little harsh, I understand that but we have a policy of not allowing community groups to setup tables or booths for free inside the festival to distribute literature and information," said Executive Director Brian Bowe.
The festival does allow non-profits to sell food and crafts but not to hand out fliers or other interest groups soliciting, but Doering said the search for Sierra should have been an exception. "We wanted to keep the awareness alive. We wanted people to know that we are still looking for her. Some people don't understand that we are still looking for her," said Doering.
Since the Sierra LaMar group is not allowed inside the festival, they're making posters now and papers to pass out outside festival doors.
