Guitar Charity
- Mark Valentine
- Apr 17
- 2 min read
Unlike other instruments, guitars have an emotional effect on the humans that play them. Eric Clapton ran into an apartment fire to save a guitar. It wan’t because of the financial value of the instrument. It was the emotional value. As he said, “It is not a very expensive guitar but I would pay a reasonable price for it as I really want to hold on to it. It is a guitar that’s been around my house for years and I’ve picked it up in times of great stress, like a comfort blanket.” It is hard to explain, but that is not unusual. Every Guitar Has A Story has a good number of videos that show the connection that humans form with guitars. That knowledge should be used for good.
Our friends at Ward Parkway Shops in Kansas City mentioned a charity called “Guitars For Vets.” It has been serving veterans for nearly 20 years. The basic program seems simple. Each veteran is given an acoustic guitar, gig bag, strap, tuner, strings, picks, method book and a certificate of completion after 10 lessons. Each chapter has monthly group sessions where the veterans get together and talk and play. Does it work?
After nearly 10,000 vets have been served, 21% experience less symptoms of PTSD and 27% have decreased symptoms of depression.
Every Guitar Has A story is going all in on this until we see a reason to stop. We are forming relationships now and we will keep you posted.
Thanks for caring.
Here’s our favorite veteran showing us one of his special guitars.
Comments