KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City drill team that competes and performs across the Midwest is looking for help to replace equipment after a water pipe burst.
“Devastating, just looking at everything ruined — trophies and drums,” said Deante Hawley, KC Falcons Marching Band drum master.
Team members described water everywhere, with chaperone Kimberly Rickets saying it was raining down and "just pushing out like a river."
Two feet of water from broken pipes swamped the Falcons' drum shells, sticks, hardware, uniforms and pompoms.
“We worked so hard to get those trophies — 1st, 2nd, 3rd," Rickets said. "To come here and see the water damage and the stuff on the flood, that was just heartbreaking."
Not only is the drill team a place where members feel they belong but it’s a space to seek help, eat dinner and complete school work.
“We try to move everyone from the streets to have fun, drum — basically we all stick together and be a family,” Hawley said.
The Falcons have been practicing for months to prepare for the trip to New Orleans.
“This is the number one trip we look forward to,” said Juston Brewster, director and president of the Falcons. “Every year this is one of our top drops. Parents look forward to it, kids look forward to it. Let your hair down, enjoy yourself [and] have fun.”
Brewster says the team is scheduled to perform in two parades, each eight to 10 miles long, for Mardi Gras in NOLA.
But with no drums or uniforms, the trip is up in the air.
Anyone who would like to help the Falcons can do via their GoFundMe.
—
