In a few hours, hundreds of Mules fans will toss on maroon and white before heading to the stadium for tonight's varsity football game against the St. Charles Pirates.
Football season is in full swing, as are boundless opportunities to display hometown pride. But according to social worker Carrie Booker, the number of Poplar Bluff R-1 students without attire to wear during celebrations of school spirit is surprisingly high. With homecoming on the horizon, Booker and Poplar Bluff Bright Futures found a solution through a T-shirt drive called Pass the Pride.
"If a student has a connection to their school, they're more eager to be there and to participate," she said. "Our goal is to make sure that any student who wants a T-shirt, can get one."
Supporters attending tonight's football game, or any home game through Sept. 22, is encouraged to drop off new or gently used Mules shirts and other appropriate school spirit wear of various sizes to the Booster Club tent. The Booster Club also will have T-shirts available to purchase for donation.
During junior varsity games on Sept. 11 and 18, and junior high football on Sept. 7, the drop off location will be near the admission gate.
Folks not attending a home football game between now and the 22nd, may drop off Mules gear to any school in the district. Blue collection bins will be located near the office at each facility.
Booker said the idea came from another Bright Futures community that held a drive to benefit high school students, but locally, it grew from a high school only T-shirt drive to a district-wide effort.
"We included all schools because during theme weeks, not just homecoming but also Red Ribbon Week at the elementary schools, there is usually a day when they wear their favorite team or wear school colors and lots of students can't participate" she said.
Distribution of shirts will be coordinated by individual schools during Homecoming Week, which begins Sept. 25, so that students are able to wear their new attire to the football game at 7 p.m. Sept. 29.