Raegan Ware

Sign for the Baldry Band hung in the history hall with the new name change. “The gong is pretty fun this year and the bagpipes, you’ve got two different ones [instruments] this year that’s new” Baldry said.

Every year, West High School takes part in the Student Hunger Drive, prompting students to bring in cans and lead fundraising activities. The Student Hunger Drive was started by River Bend Food Bank. As a member of Feeding America, River Bend Food Bank works with many different schools to end hunger insecurity in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. 

West High in particular does many different things to raise money and collect food. This year many different events are taking place to do, such as powder puff, lip sync contests, and a volleyball tournament. However, students of West are learning one more way the school raises money. 

If you’ve ever walked through the historical hallway during the Hunger Drive, you’ve heard the Baldry Big Brass Band. The Baldry Big Bras Band gather every year during the hunger drive, playing various instruments to encourage donations of small change students may have on them. With every donation, the band plays their instruments in unison, not only celebrating the donation but also drawing attention for more.  

Every year, the band changes with differing members and the instruments they use. But, this year, the biggest change was the addition of bagpipes and a gong. The new bagpipes even prompted a slight name change to the Big Baldry Brass (And Bagpipes) Band. Baldry, a social studies teacher as well as the namesake of the band, shares his own memories of the band. 

“Years ago we were just goofing around, standing out there with a coin jar and with a sign that said ‘help us’ and I thought maybe we needed to have some instruments,” Baldry said.

Every year the band would differ slightly, but different years stood. Baldry recalls one year that he remembers fondly in particular. 

“We had students involved one year … we had a drumline girl, Peyton Flynn (2022 Graduate). We had a bunch of other kids. That kid played guitar. We did a march around the hallway and went down to the office and made them participate,” Baldry recalled.

Even with all these changes, the cause of the band remains the same: supporting the hunger drive.

“We’re just helping those in need. Generally, most teachers are there to help people and we see the hunger drive as a good cause. Gives us an excuse to be silly,” said Baldry.