Bands of The Villages Outreach needs your help.
For the second year in a row, the organization is seeking old, gently used instruments to donate to students who might not otherwise get a chance to participate in music.
Over the past two years, Bands of The Villages Outreach members have worked hard to assist band teachers and area students in the classroom through retired volunteers, the purchase of music and classroom supplies, and the placement of donated instruments from The Villages and the surrounding tri-county area. The group has established a “grant” process for teachers seeking instruments that can be viewed online at bandsofthevillages.com under the tab labeled “Outreach.”
Planning for the second half of the school year is well under way at area schools and for many teachers, part of that revolves who will play in the band and what instruments will be needed, as well as what competitions will be entered and what music will be played.
Some students, no doubt, will opt out of participating in band because playable instruments aren’t available to them, or their families can’t afford to rent or purchase one. That’s where Bands of The Villages Outreach, through local donations, really makes a difference.
In November and December 2017, Outreach volunteers received 48 instruments. To date, all of those have been distributed to students. So the group is working hard this year to replenish those much-needed instruments and collect even more, if possible.
Outreach volunteers will then speak with area school districts and band teachers to find out what instruments are needed most. And once the instruments are collected this year, they will be cleaned, serviced and put into the hands of the students who need them, along with new carrying cases if needed.
For those interested in donating, any concert band instrument is welcome, including those in the wind and percussion families. Music and stands also are a welcome addition and will be distributed as well, Outreach officials said.
Many instruments have been specifically requested from area schools. Those include: flutes, clarinets, saxophones (alto, tenor and baritone), string basses, trombones, French horns, baritone horns, sousaphones and timpani drum sets.
“Many teachers request those,” Outreach member Sandy Fuller said. “They are very expensive.”
Monetary donations are also helpful for the Outreach effort, as some instruments will need to be repaired and supplies are necessary. Cash donations can be made directly to the Bands of the Villages treasurer.
Outreach members are encouraging all Villagers to tell their friends and neighbors about the instrument drive.
“You would be surprised what word of mouth can do,” Fuller said. “We’ve had instruments travel from as far away as Germany to be donated.”
Those wishing to give instruments to Bands of The Villages Outreach can contact Fuller by email at sabailey51@aol.com. Please put “Instrument Donation” in the subject line. Fuller can answer questions and help arrange pickup of your instrument. Outreach, which is a 501(c)(3) charity, also will issue donations letters for IRS purposes.
“If you can help, we would love to hear from you,” Fuller said. “If not now, when you have an instrument available.”