Ky. organization seeking instrument donations for Hurricane Helene survivors

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - The music of the front porch is the soundtrack of America, hat's one of Michael Johnathon's many mottos, and the mission behind WoodSongs, a musical platform that highlights the music of Appalachia.

"When something is built out of love, you look for a way to love back what built it," said Johnathon, who is WoodSong's creator.

With the front porches and dreams of numerous music makers swept away in the destruction of Hurricane Helene, Johnathon's heartstrings were impacted, too.

"East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, is one of the most musical, romantic places in America, and it is a very artistic region, and they have been wiped out," he said.

That's why the WoodSongs Helene Instrument Drive came to be.

Johnathon said he and other volunteers are collecting donated instruments to give free of charge to Helene survivors.

Its a relief effort they've done before following the western Kentucky tornados and eastern Kentucky floods.

"They don't care about music right now, they care about their life, their family, their missing loved one. The business they worked at is gone. They don't have a job. Their car floated down the river. Their house is gone, but when that issue goes below the fold so to speak, that's when WoodSongs will be there.

Johnathon said people can drop off gently used, playable instruments at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington.

He said those instruments can be any string instrument that is easy to transport.

People can drop off donations now until January 1.

"Home, neighbors, family, and that is the greatest musical stage in the world, is what happens of front porches. All those front porches in the Helene region have been wiped away. WoodSongs is gonna be there with the gift of the heart, the gift of music, the gift of spirit and their front porch," Johnathon said.

To find out more about this effort, you can visit the WoodSongs website.