The Shelby Whippet Band is hoping to purchase “sharp” new uniforms to match their sharp, uniform sound, and they’re looking to the Shelby community for help.
For the past 21 years, Shelby High School’s band members have been wearing the same uniforms handed down throughout the years. According to Director Lisa Baker, that’s about twice as long as any band uniform should last.
“The current uniforms were first worn in 1993 and normally a uniform should last about 10 to 12 years, so we’ve been very fortunate that the kids and their parents have done a good job taking care of the uniforms,” said Baker.
The Shelby Whippet Band is due for change, and Baker and the rest of the band have been hard at work raising funds over the past few months. So far the band has raised $25,000 of their $75,000 goal. The total would provide a uniform for each of the 102 students currently in band, as well as a few extras.
“Uniforms are approximately $500 apiece, and that includes a jacket, pants, garment bag, hat, hatbox and plume,” said Baker. “What we try to do is make sure we have one for every student and then we have to have other things to mix and match, sometimes a pant will fit but a jacket won’t.”
The uniforms have been designed and will be manufactured by Stanbury Uniforms. Shelby Whippet Band members are issued their uniforms before the start of football in August and return the uniforms after the Memorial Day parade in May.
Despite the diligence of both parents and students in caring for the aging uniforms, wear and tear is expected – while the uniforms might look great from a distance, many are beyond repair because of torn linings, broken zippers and worn fabric. Baker noted Shelby is one of the few schools that send their uniforms home with their band members.
“We’ve had some problems in the past, if we’ve had a wet Friday night and they throw them in the garment bag and throw it in the trunk then things grow and you can’t wear it again, it’s discolored and not usable,” said Baker. “We’ve only had two incidents in my 30 years of being here where that’s happened. So in all those years that’s a pretty good track record.”
Director Bryan Day added that making the uniform the responsibility of the student also brings with it a sense of pride.
“It may not be very fashionable sometimes to wear a particular uniform that we might want them to wear, but I think by the time they get into high school and in the band I think most of them take pride in their uniform, even if they don’t say that they do,” said Day.
In addition, Baker said a uniform’s importance comes from connecting 100 individual students trying to accomplish one task.
“The word ‘uniform’ implies one, so we think it’s very important for kids,” said Baker. “They have to look the same – they have to put their hair underneath their hats, which they don’t like to do – but I think there’s a lot to be learned in striving to be like one another….we have so many people who think it’s important to be individuals. That has its place as well, but it’s just as important to be able to be part of the group.”
The Shelby Foundation and the Gimbel Foundation have been instrumental in helping the band reach its fundraising goals, as well as a large number of parents and grandparents. Donations from $50 to $1,000 continue to roll in, and Baker said the band would make sure the community is aware of those who donated. In fact, some new uniforms will include a label with the names of people who donated $500 – enough to purchase one full uniform.
Baker said the band hopes to wear the new uniforms for the first time at the first football game this fall. For that to happen, at least $50,000 must be raised by the end of April at the very latest. It will be one of the last tasks Baker completes as director before retiring on May 27.
“I came here in 1985, and we’ve always been taught that this is a place that is very special,” said Baker. “It’s my obligation that I leave things in at least as good of shape as I found them, or better. For me, it isn’t bittersweet because I feel like I’ve done everything I can do and I feel very proud of the work that we’ve done together.”
For more information about the Shelby Whippet Band Uniform Drive, contact Baker or Day at Shelby High School, 419-342-6580, extension 2 or Baker at baker.lisa@shelbyk12.org and Day at day.bryan@shelbyk12.org.
Whippet supporters can also mail checks to SWB Uniform Drive, Shelby Whippets Band, c/o Shelby Senior High School, 1 Whippet Way, Shelby OH 44875.
