MUNSTER | Supporters of high school marching bands often sell candy, cookies, candles and coupon books to raise funds for instruments and travel expenses.
This year the Munster Band Backers are offering a unique item that will last much longer than the usual fare and possibly become an heirloom.
The hometown custom tapestry throw blanket is a 54-by-70-inch, 100 percent cotton jacquard woven blanket with fringe, and features images of nine well-known Munster buildings and symbols. The Band Backers are selling the blankets for $50 each. Shipping outside Munster is an additional $10.
“We’re raising money to purchase new drums for the Munster High School marching band, and we hope to raise $4,000 with this tapestry throw,” said Diane Zuck, a Band Backer member and mother of band members.
The snare, base and tenor drums cost $10,000, she said.
“We are also applying for grants from foundations," she said.
The marching bands’ drums get handled a lot and usually have a 10-year lifespan, Zuck said. Those used by the MHS marching band are about 15 years old, and some of the carriers are wrapped in duct tape, she said.
Zuck came up with the idea for this year’s fundraiser and heads the sales committee.
“This is novel to Munster, but we used to do these kinds of school fundraisers in Allen, Texas, when we lived there, and we always made money,” said Zuck. “The hometown tapestry blanket is also used in other towns like Zionsville, Ind.”
A South Carolina company is manufacturing the blankets for the Band Backers.
“We took photos of various places around town and sent them to the company. They came up with a design and we tweaked it,” she said.
The images on the tapestry throw include the Kaske House in Heritage Park, the Munster Public Library, the Community Veterans Memorial, Centennial Park, Munster High School and The Community Hospital.
The tapestry blanket was displayed by the marching band during the town’s Fourth of July parade, and that’s when the group started taking orders.
“We will be selling the throws through the fall,” Zuck said. “They make wonderful Christmas gifts.”
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