Many programs (Washington Middle School, Seneca Valley High School, Spartan Marching Band) have taken old band uniforms and turned those seemingly useless items into fundraising gold by creating commemorative pillows from them. Here’s an excerpt from the recent WMS article:

[Washington Middle School] band director Julie Donnell went online and found a Tennessee company that made old band uniforms into pillows and other items….

Board member Kathy Harrison didn’t think the Music Boosters should pay for something they could do themselves. So Harrison, who sews as a hobby, took home one uniform and put together a sample pillow.

Two sample pillows were shown to audience members who attended the middle school’s February concert, and there was a request for volunteers who would like to produce the pillows.

Sixteen volunteers are on board. Half rip apart the uniforms. The other eight sew the pillows. Each pillow takes about two hours of work.

The Music Boosters bought supplies from Hancock Fabrics in Peoria, which also provided expert advice on how to design the pillows and put them together.

Orders for pillows were taken beginning at the end of March. The cost is $25 per pillow.

There’s enough material to make as many as 200 pillows. The pillows being offered now are made from the fronts and backs of the uniform jackets. Pillows made from the uniform sleeves may be sold later.