Travel Company Steps Up To Help West Rowan Middle School Band Go To Competition After Money Was Stolen

SALISBURY, NC.–The community is helping a local middle school band get to an out of state competition. The Treasurer of West Rowan Middle School booster club  is accused of stealing thousands of dollars that was supposed to be pay for the trip. A travel company is stepping in to help.

“Band is family if you’ve ever been part of it or you’ve been involved then you know that,” says Vice President of West Rowan County band boosters Amy Mitchell.

Amy Mitchell’s daughters play the flute and clarinet in the West Rowan Middle School Band. For months, band members have been raising money fulfill their dreams of playing so they can go to a competition in Williamsburg, Virginia–But that dream almost faded.

“That there was some money missing out of our band booster account and we started diving into it,” says Mitchell.

The treasurer, Chantel Racquelle, is accused of stealing thousands of dollars meant for the trip. Investigators say that over a span of six months, she stole $14,000.

“The anger there was the sadness you couldn’t sleep physically sick you your stomach stayed in knots I hope it was a whole grieving process.”

Amy and the band refused to give up. They kept fundraising and started a go fund me page. That’s when Worldstrides– a student travel company– got word of what happened.

“It just breaks my heart when kids work so hard to make something happen and something disrupts it, especially something like this, and we just said we got to help,” says CEO of WorldStrides Jim Hall.

The company said it would match donations two to one,  which will allow the band to go to the competition.

They still need money for buses and other materials. If you want to donate, you can visit the GoFundMe page.