20-02-2025
Local musicians use their talents to make a difference
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Some local musicians are using their talents to make a difference in the community.
Last year, Samuel and Levi Merritt formed a blues & rock band. They call themselves 'Drive-By' because they played on their porch as people drove by, listening and honking their horns. The brothers wanted to support FSU Panama City's non-profit, Early Childhood Autism Program.
ECAP provides in-home and in-clinic services for children with autism. On February 8th, Drive-By played at Angry Tuna to about 80 people, who left tips in person or by scanning a flow code with their phones.
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They raised $1,000 for the Butchikas Foundation Scholarship fund, which helps families in need with the costs for Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy.
'We just wanted to be a positive example and hopefully have a positive impact with the platform with this band. And that's what separates us. And so we wanted to do something for autism because we have a lot of friends and families who've been affected by that,' Samuel and Levi Merritt said.
'We also offer this scholarship so families don't have to worry about covering the price of their therapy. If they can't afford it, then they can apply for the scholarship. And our donors in the community, such as the Merritt family today, help to support that mission,' ECAP Assistant Director Kolton Sellers said.
Leitz Music Company also donated a guitar to help raise money.
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