With over $10,000 in annual costs and little subsidy from the school district, the Wareham indoor color guard is constantly challenged financially. For the upcoming competition season, which runs from February until early April, the guard has an added cost: a new floor.

Though it may look like a tarp, the mat referred to as a "floor" is both stage set and required equipment. Required for color guard competition, the mat shields gym floors from damage from dropped flag poles, wooden rifles, metal sabers and other equipment used in the guard's choreographed shows.

The floor is also repainted each year to create a theme for that year's show.

The present floor has been used for about five seasons. With each season's theme requiring about 10 gallons of paint, the pounds add up with the years.

“Right now, our floor weighs about 500 pounds,” said Jodie Glidden, a parent of a guard member. “[The New England Scholastic Band Association] competitions allow only about three minutes for each guard to get their floors on and off the gym. The girls will grab the equipment, and the parents will pick up the floor.”

“As the floor gets heavier every year, it becomes harder on the parents,” Glidden said.

The guard has two options. It could buy a pre-made floor which costs anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000. Another option is to buy old billboard signs and duct tape them together for a cost of about $800.

“The billboards you see on the highway, that’s what we would use,” said Annmarie Churchill, the guard’s director.

Initially, these billboards weight between 100 and 200 pounds. After duct taping and painting, the difference in weight would not make for a long-term solution.

However, the guard’s choice will be made based on the money it raises.

“We’re setting our sights on raising $10,000,” Glidden said. “I don’t know if we’ll meet that goal, but that’s what we’re striving for.”

The next major fundraising event is a pancake breakfast on Dec. 7 at the high school cafeteria from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Two bikes will be raffled, one for a girl and one for a boy. There will also be a coloring contest.

The breakfast is going into its sixth year, and averages $3,000 in proceeds.

“The pancake breakfast takes a huge chunk off,” Churchill said.

“I thank all the support we get from the town of Wareham,” Glidden said. “We hope for their continued support.”

“You just try to keep up with the expenses throughout the year and not go under,” Glidden said. “We have some very generous parents who help us stay afloat.”

Last year, though, the guard struggled to stay afloat. It finished the year with $3,000 remaining in bills which was just recently paid off.

Yet, the parents organized all sorts of fundraisers from car washes to spaghetti dinners to fill the gap.

“You can’t… not want to help,” Glidden said. “I see parents… in any sport say, ‘oh yeah, I don’t need to help with that.’ How can you not? I guess it’s a personality difference.”

“It’s too much for someone to do alone.”