Latest news with #Johnathon
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2,000 Free Instruments Given to North Carolina Hurricane Victims
The post 2,000 Free Instruments Given to North Carolina Hurricane Victims appeared first on Consequence. On Sunday, March 9th, a charity drive at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina gave away more than 2,000 free musical instruments to North Carolina hurricane victims, as reported by WLOS. A riverside community outside of Ashville, Swannanoa was hit particularly hard by the devastating Hurricane Helene. In response, the WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour organized the massive instrument giveaway in an effort to assist those affected. The team, including the program's host Michael Johnathon, spent months collecting donated instruments from 36 different drop-off locations in spots like Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, and even Texas and New York. 'We haven't forgotten the situation of folks affected by Helene,' Johnathon said prior to the event. 'You are the comfortable rocking chair of America's musical front porch. So many people donated violins, guitars, cellos, banjos, trumpets, and more. The response has been phenomenal.' As the first-come, first-serve distribution day arrived, the team's stock of instruments had surpassed 1,600 in total. Then, in the days leading up to the event, an additional 200 instruments were donated, according to local coverage from WNC's Fiasco Media. That number only continued to climb thanks to additional donations gathered by young bluegrass up-and-comer Wyatt Ellis, who helped bring in more than 100 additional pieces of equipment. Following Sunday, the organizers announced that all of the donated gear had ultimately found a home. The event served as Johnathon's third instrument drive, and while it was intended to help Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee residents in particular, no recipients were required to provide proof of residence or additional information. Even months after Hurricane Helene has subsided, relief efforts in affected areas continue to be of incredible importance. Last year, a number of efforts from various artists aimed to provide funding for relief, including charity compilations and sizable donations from folks like Dolly Parton and Metallica. For more information on how to help and where to donate, check out our resource page here. 2,000 Free Instruments Given to North Carolina Hurricane Victims Jonah Krueger Popular Posts Tool Apparently Booed for Disappointing Set at Their Own Festival Jon Stewart Calls Out Elon Musk for Flaking on The Daily Show Interview Faster Pussycat Singer's Fiancée Dies After Falling Overboard on '80s Cruise That Band Was Playing Dead Kennedys Legend Jello Biafra Joins Cavalera Onstage for "Nazi Trumps F**k Off": Watch Gene Hackman and Wife's Causes of Death Revealed Monty Python and the Holy Grail Returning to Theaters for 50th Anniversary Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Helene Recovery: Free instruments given to musicians at WNC college
Around 1,000 instruments were given to musicians hit hard by Hurricane Helene at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa over the weekend. WLOS in Asheville reports that WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, an internationally syndicated TV and radio program, began collecting instruments for Helene victims earlier this year. The instrument giveaway took place Sunday afternoon at Kittredge Arts Center on Warren Wilson's campus, according to WLOS. ALSO READ: Deadline for Helene disaster unemployment assistance is today 'We haven't forgotten the situation of folks affected by Helene,' WLOS reports folksinger and WoodSongs host, Michael Johnathon, said. According to WLOS, this is third instrument drive Johnathon has led. WoodSongs previously gave away instruments to tornado victims in western Kentucky and flood victims in Appalachia. 'Love is the greatest transaction of the arts,' Johnathon told WLOS. 'Helene victims have already been through so much,' Johnathon reportedly added, emphasizing WoodSongs wanted to make the instrument distribution as easy as possible. 'There are no forms to fill out. Just show up.' In other Helene recovery news, Channel 9′s Hannah Goetz recently met a therapy dog named Hope who's being taught to provide support for crews at the Saluda Fire Department in South Carolina. They lost two of their own while responding during Hurricane Helene, and Hope is part of a larger effort to get a therapy dog into every department that lost a first responder in the storm. READ MORE: Nonprofit aims to get therapy dogs to departments hurt by Hurricane Helene Hope is the first therapy dog acquired by the K-9 Responder Foundation, a new nonprofit dedicated to getting trained therapy dogs to first responders without the financial burden. 'We can come up with this foundation as a way to generate funds, remove those financial barriers, and get people the support that they need to live their best life,' said Rick Dunton, president of the K-9 Responder Foundation. WATCH BELOW: Western NC seniors build homes for Helene victims
