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Hungry for Music Notes
Spring 2020
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Like everyone, our plans have drastically changed since the pandemic shutdown began in
March.
I was in the middle of a distribution trip that was cut short by two weeks. Stops in Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee were postponed indefinitely. The last instrument that was hand-delivered was a drum set to Memphis. We have continued to ship instruments on a limited basis, but distribution numbers are off-pace for our 2020 goal.
The 25th annual Hungry for Crawfish Boil will have to wait another year and also the kick-off of the much anticipated Magic Music Bus Tour II will be delayed. It was initially set for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in June. Another launch date and city will need to be decided. Also, both monetary and instrument donations are understandably down.
Despite the setbacks and challenges, Hungry for Music will survive this pandemic. The down time has given me the much needed opportunity to recharge, re-evaluate, and reorganize. The power of music will give us all strength to persevere the pandemic.
Hungry for Music will continue to provide the gift of music to programs that are finding innovative ways to continue the music education of our children.
May you always find comfort in music,
Jeff Campbell
Hungry for Music
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We are happy to assist our friend, Erskin Mitchell, with launching his music outreach non-profit, Successful, Inc. in Memphis. |
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Our organizations have the common goal of giving opportunities to young musicians by providing quality music instruments.
As reported previously, Hungry for Music donated two dozen instruments that gave them a nice inventory to begin their mission.
Many of the instruments are distributed through music teacher Carter Threlkeld, who recently delivered a drum set to one of his aspiring drum students. Carter captured the donation delivery on video. The smile says it all! The Shreveport Music Company gave us a great deal on the set and we are grateful!
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Big Delivery in Sunshine State |
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In mid-March, Hungry for Music donated more than 60 items of equipment, from amps to guitars, keyboards, basses and music technology gear, to Young Musicians Unite, a program dedicated to the belief that every Miami-area student deserves access to music education regardless of their socioeconomic background. Directed by Sammy Gonzalez, Young Musicians Unite collaborates with schools to provide free music education, which in turn inspires personal development, fosters a sense of community and prepares future leaders.
Gonzalez, founder of the Wynwood School of Music, also directs the Miami Beach Senior High School Rock Ensemble, a Young Musicians Unite program.
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Wallingford Eagle
Scout Project
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Music education supporters from Wallingford (Pa.) Presbyterian Church continued to drop off instruments, using safe distancing practices, in April during coronavirus restrictions to support Troop 277 Eagle Scout’s project for Hungry for Music. It also gave Pastor François a chance to test his skills!
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We greatly appreciate the support of Holtzman Corp., the landlord of our distribution center in Mt. Jackson, who waived our monthly rent for May to give us relief during the shutdown. We understand that they have been extremely supportive of the community and their employees during these difficult times. Thank you!
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Spring Donation
Drive Continues |
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It's not too late to donate to our spring donation drive. We are grateful for your support of our mission of providing music instruments to children hungry to play!
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''Here is a picture of one of the students holding the cello through a Zoom lesson. So far it is going great. Thank you so much for the cellos, you got the students to smile and to be able to continue playing! Thank you.''
~Alison L., Lakota High School, North Dakota
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The Headless Cello Player
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The instruments we donated to Rock to the Future in Philadelphia at the beginning of the year are coming in handy during the pandemic. Look at RtR co-founder, Josh Craft, in action. Go Josh!
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Please help us continue to expand our mission. |
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Hungry for Music recently donated another 16 acoustic guitars to Rwanda Rocks Music School via Harold Owens at MusiCares. We had previously made a donation earlier this year. Harold is on the Board of Directors of Rwanda Rocks Music School, whose parent organization is OmniPeace.
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Receiving notes like these are always appreciated and fuel for the mission:
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''I was able to talk to Alicia on Facetime this morning, and she LOVES her viola! She held it up and showed it to me. She was so cute. Alicia is over the moon about her new viola. I said she will treasure this all her life, and she agreed.
Thank you SO much for this great gift.
In this time where things are so uncertain and all children in Washington state are not in school, this gift was a huge ray of sunshine in more lives than just Alicia’s. Thank you.''
~ Social worker in Washington state
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“Thank you so much for donating the instruments. Now some of the violists and cellist don’t have to share. And the violin students can get the full size. We really appreciate it. Thank you again!”
~ Hsin-Ting Feng, Orchestra Director,
Terence C. Reilly School No. 7, Elizabeth, N.J.
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“On behalf of my son Jeremy I need to thank you so very much for his new guitar. To give a kid an instrument that he yearns to develop his skills on and that he loves to play but could not afford is a gift that will be with him forever. The joy in his eyes has brought tears to mine. I can not express the gratitude that we both feel for you and for all of those donors that have helped make this possible. I am going to do my best to promote your program to possible financial donors with the hope that their donations and your incredible work will bring the absolute joy that I have seen in my sons heart.”
~Jeremy’s mom |
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"In absence of our physical programs we are creating a completely digital space for students to learn and create music. We are thankful Hungry for Music could provide us with instruments for our students. We provided contactless drops off of guitars, basses and keyboards so students can continue to rock out with us on our online classes. We couldn't have done it without Hungry for Music’s help!"
~Joshua Craft, Chief Music Officer, Rock to the Future |
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HFM Director Jeff Campbell recently took a short trip to Maryland’s eastern shore (St. Michaels) to pick up Sutton Mesko’s haul of almost 80 music instruments he had collected for his Eagle Scout Community Service Project. We appreciate and are grateful for Sutton’s awesome effort in support of Hungry for Music.
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Music instrument bandits.
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Alicia Medina, 11, and Andrea Medina, 9, from South Miami, wanted to give less fortunate kids an opportunity to learn music, so they held an instrument drive for Hungry for Music. Several of the guitars they collected have already found homes. Hungry for Music greatly appreciates the effort by Alicia and Andrea and looks forward to the next time we meet. They want to make the instrument drive an ongoing project in their community.
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Way to go, Jakob Satterfield, of Boy Scout Troop 366 at Westminster Presbyterian Church! Jakob, an Upper St. Clair (Pa.) High School sophomore, collected more than 80 music instruments in support of Hungry for Music for his Eagle Scout service project. Believe it or not all the instruments fit into Granny the Grand Voyager van!
One of the instruments came with a heart-warming story.
“We get the cello out, and she’s on the verge of tears ... saying that there’s almost nothing more beautiful than hearing your child play music for the first time, and then hearing them improve over time," Jakob, 15, told the community newspaper, The Almanac.
“She got really choked up and said that she hoped someone else could hear it like that. And that’s why she donated it to us.”
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Jakob poses with his impressive accomplishment.
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Since becoming a non-profit 25 years ago, Hungry for Music has brought the healing quality of music to more than 14,000 children in 49 states and 30 countries through its musical instrument donation program. We appreciate everyone who has helped us along the way and could not fulfill our mission without the generosity of others.
If you are able, please donate funds, buy a t-shirt from our online store, or visit our website to find out about other ways you can support Hungry for Music. |
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Miss a recent newsletter? Click the link to view past issues. |
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