BROOKINGS The Brookings High School marching band has outgrown their equipment trailer, and through the end of the month an anonymous benefactor will match up to $25,000 in donations toward the purchase of a new trailer.
Were looking to get a semi-trailer instead of just the fifth-wheel trailer we have now, Jenny Kluck, vice president of the Brookings Band Boosters, said. The old trailer has been around quite a while. As the band keeps growing, the number of instruments we need to take along keeps growing. Then marching band shows themselves keep evolving. Like right now, the trend is towards prop-heavy, spectacular field shows. Thats great; but we just dont have the space to carry props like that which could allow us to compete with bigger schools.
She said most other schools use semi-trailers to haul equipment instruments, props and audio gear.
What were estimating right now is probably about $80,000, Kluck said. A band family has very generously decided to match $25,000. So if the students can raise $25,000, a band family will then match that. You can see that would be a significant chunk of the cost.
She said band students are keenly aware of the need for a new trailer.
The students themselves would love to see a new trailer especially those front ensemble students who are the ones who deal with it the most, Kluck said. Their instruments get unloaded first, but they get loaded last. So when were tearing down after a football game or a competition, theyre the last ones on the bus because they have to wait for all the props to get disassembled and loaded. Loading and unloading is really like playing Tetris.
She said a bigger trailer is also essential to keep up with continued growth in the band program.
The band just keeps growing, Kluck said. From what I understand, the fifth grade class right now which is when kids start band is just huge. So this isnt just a need for now. This is really fundraising for the future, right? This is trying to protect this program and make it successful and competitive well into the future. We want to protect that going forward to make sure the kids who are coming up have a good or even better experience than the current kids have.
The deadline for donations to be eligible for the $25,000 match is April 30, but Kluck said theyre happy to accept public support at any time throughout the year.
The kids are just mass texting people their family and their friends. Theyre saying, hey this is what were doing. Can you help? Can you give? she said. If people want to donate and they dont have a kid in band they can just go to the Brookings band website, and at the top of the page there is a support button. We have a spot for individual contributions or corporate sponsorships. If anyone knows somebody interested in being a corporate sponsor, were always looking for those as well.
Donations can be made at http://BrookingsBand.org/support or by mailing a check to P.O. Box 113, Brookings, SD 57006. More information is also posted at Brookings High School Band Facebook page.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
Leave a Reply