[barprey]

Sandy Fuller, chairman of the outreach committee for the organization Bands of The Villages (BOTV), has a question for you: Do you have a gently used instrument in your closet that you are no longer using?
When BOTV started their outreach program over a year ago they expected to volunteer in the schools, help with instrument repairs, and to provide financial aid for band trips. As they branched out to offer assistance to schools in Lake, Sumter and Marion counties they discovered the real need was for instruments. There are many children who do not join the band because of the cost of the instrument or have to drop out if parents can no longer afford the monthly payments to rent an instrument. Instruments are the number one teacher request. BOTV wants to give positive, musical experiences to children that might otherwise not have it, feeling that music can become a lifelong learning and loving experience.BOTV is looking for band instruments, not stringed instruments, think marching band, flutes, clarinets, saxophones, and trumpets. Monetary donations are also being accepted for repair of instruments and assistance in classrooms. These donations are going to a charitable organization and therefore are tax deductible.
If you have an instrument to donate or/and monetary donation please contact Sandy Fuller at sabailey51@aol.com noting BOTV Instruments in the subject line.