Supporters of a drum replacement project for the Emporia High School Band hope to soon wrap up the fundraising drive to raise $8,000 to buy the drums.
A group of local businesses and individuals for the third consecutive year has come together to build a playhouse that will be raffled off, with proceeds going to charity. This year, the money will be given to the Emporia High Band Boosters, which will purchase the drums. The boosters already have had a raffle for a grandfather clock valued at more than $3,000.
“We’re almost halfway to our goal,” said Debbie Williams of Williams Automotive, one of the playhouse sponsors. She and husband, Rex Williams, have three sons who have played in the EHS band, as well as in college bands and she knows the need for replacement drums for the young musicians. The newer drums are lightly used and will be purchased from a professional drum corps.
“They wanted $8,000 for the drums, and then we’d like to be able to buy some new drum heads for the old drums that we’d like to hand down to the middle school,” she said. “It’s really going to be a nice Christmas gift for somebody in town.”
The playhouse was made to resemble the White House.
It will be displayed on the Williams Automotive entry in the Christmas parade on Tuesday, beginning at 7 p.m.
All supplies, materials and labor were donated by Sutherland Lumber, Williams Automotive, Bill Redeker Construction, Mike Williams, Sheila Williams of Bank of America, Groh Printing, and Printing Plus.
The Williams Automotive float, with the “Christmas Vacation” theme, will feature artwork done by Emporia High School students.
“Ours is vacation to Washington, D.C., so the Emporia High Fine Arts Club has painted us some Washington, D.C., scenes,” Williams said.
The company paid the students to do the scenery, so they, too, could earn money for projects.
After the parade, the playhouse will be unloaded at Sutherland Lumber Co. for display until the winning ticket is drawn on Dec. 22. Williams will deliver the house to the winner at no charge within the city limits.
“Delivery is available outside Emporia, but some additional charges may apply for mileage, depending on the location,” she said.
Tickets, at a suggested donation of $5 each, are available at Sutherland Lumber, Williams Automotive, Pit Stop Fast Lube, Bank of America and from all of the individuals involved in the construction of the playhouse.
“Every dime of the donated money goes to the Emporia High marching band this year,” Williams said. “... If somebody doesn’t need a playhouse but just wants to make a donation, that would be fabulous.”
Williams and the band boosters are hoping to be able to purchase the replacement drums before the EHS musicians go to Washington, D.C., to represent Emporia in the Independence Day parade on July 4.
Band director Bob Haselhuhn was to be at Flint Hills Music all day today to sell raffle tickets for the playhouse.
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