PLAINFIELD--It's been over 20 years, and the Plainfield High School marching band is finally looking to get an upgrade.
The band won the state championship this year, but it has been using the same uniforms since the early 1990s, and they're no longer in decent condition.
Band director Kacey Howard says the uniforms are "stained, they're missing buttons, they're missing parts of pants."
Howard noted members are gearing up for the beginning of the season in September, and the band has been invited to a national competition in November, which will be held in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
"The students put in a lot of work and effort," Howard said. "We need uniforms that represent the hard work they put in."
Howard estimates the marching band needs about $35,000 to outfit the entire 70-member squad.
Mariah Faison, the drum major and a Plainfield High junior, said of the uniforms, "They're ratty and old and they just don't fit a lot of people."
Corrine Verge, a sophomore who plays the clarinet for the Panthers, has been at the forefront of trying to raise funds. She said, "A normal lifespan for a uniform is like 10 years, so it's been way too long."
If you'd like to help the Plainfield band dress the part when they head to nationals, you can donate by visiting to their GoFundMe page here.
