Holiday fruit is on sale

Between enthusiastic half-time shows at high school football games, members of Columbia County's four marching bands are taking to the streets this fall for their annual holiday fruit sales.

Lakeside High School band members began selling $15 boxes of oranges, grapefruit and tangelos Sept. 21 in an effort to purchase new marching band uniforms within the next two years.

"That's our goal," said Carol Hutchins, the president of the Lakeside Panther Band Boosters. "We need to raise $70,000."

Hutchins said the band has already amassed more than $15,000 toward the uniforms. She said if the 2,000-box goal is met, this year's sale should get an additional $10,000 toward the uniforms.

"That is our biggest fundraiser," Hutchins said of the fruit sale.

The sale runs through Nov. 14, and the fruit is expected to be delivered Dec. 1.

Harlem High School band members, who have been selling fruit since Oct. 2, are working toward a different goal. Proceeds from the fruit sale go toward the band's December trip to Orlando, Fla., where they will perform at the Florida Citrus Sports Champs Sports Bowl, said Stacey Wade, the band's director.

Harlem band members are selling 10-pound boxes of navel oranges, grapefruit and tangelos for $14 and 20-pound boxes for $18. Mixed boxes of oranges and grapefruit cost $15 for a 10-pound box and $18 for a 20-pound box. A box of Citrus Delight, which is a mix of tangelos, navel oranges and grapefruit, with about 12 of each, costs $28.

The fruit is expected to be delivered Nov. 27, said Alda Wilmoth, the band booster president and Harlem Middle School band director.

Evans High School band members began selling oranges and grapefruit Sept. 8. Boxes cost $15 and can be ordered through Nov. 3. The fruit is expected to be delivered Nov. 2 for sorting and purchased boxes will be delivered a few days after the delivery.

Greenbrier High School band's annual fruit sale ends Oct. 27. Students have been selling grapefruit, navel oranges and tangelos since Sept. 8. Fruit costs $15 per box and is expected to be delivered the first week of December.

Fruit can be ordered by contacting band members from any of the four high schools or by calling the schools: Evans High, (706) 863-1198; Greenbrier High, (706) 650-6040; Harlem High, (706) 556-5980 and Lakeside High, (706) 863-0027.