By Greg Halbleib
BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington High School Marching Raiders work year round to sound good, and now are asking for help to look good.
Band director Max Chernick says their current uniforms are 12 years old, four years past their guarantee. He says the band is trying to raise $80,000 to replace the outfits with a more comfortable and easier-to-maintain model.
“They’re beautiful uniforms, likely to be from the same company that we had uniforms from previously so they last a long time,” Chernick told WJBC’s Scottt Laughlin. “They’re machine washable, they’re lighter weight so when we have to march in summertime weather it’s not so bad. It’s not like those old horrible polyester things that I wore when I was in high school.”
Chernick says the Marching Raiders Band Aids booster group has raised $45,000, or a little more than half of the goal. Chernick says anyone can adopt a uniform for $350.
“Not just one kid in a uniform now but one kid in a uniform for the next dozen years,” Chernick said. “They are expensive but they last because our kids take such great care of them and our parents are so helpful in the inventory and care of the uniforms. It’s a worthwhile investment, but we welcome any size donation.”
Donations may be made directly to Bloomington High School. Information is at the Bloomington High School Marching Raiders or Band Aids booster group Facebook pages.
Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].
