Operation Music Aid: USA

the problem:

"Operation: Music Aid USA" is a non-profit group my daughter works with to raise money to send musical instruments to wounded soldiers in our veterans hospitals in the US and Iraq.

My 9 year old daughter wanted to help increase the collections placed in jars around our town. She came up with the idea of playing her violin locally and asking for donations to buy musical instruments, such as guitars, harmonicas, keyboards, etc. All of the money goes to the instruments. Doctors report the soliders are less lonely and get better faster when they have the instruments. It helps them return to some normalcy after severe injuries and amputations of arms and legs, etc.

Over 700 instruments have reached the soldiers in Iraq and American vet hospitals. Meilia plays a large selection of classical and fiddling music every week. Her goal is not to repeat a song so that everyone hears something new and wants to contribute. People often donate $10 a time. We keep track of donations and she averages $2.00 per minute of playing! you could do this, too. Her goal is to have an instrument in every wounded soldiers possession. They get to keep the instruments when they leave the hospital.

The group, as a whole, has raised over $17,000 to date. My daughter is responsible for a small part. Lots of people are helping. She received a write up and had her picture in Music Trades, which is an industry journal that goes around the world to thousands of music dealers, manufacturers and CEOs in the music industry. The idea is spreading and we could use your help! One person does make a difference. It changes lives.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved: