The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Drive to provide band instruments
Instruments brought tears to choir director's eyes
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 18, 2007
The new year started off on a better note for more than 25 music students in Pascagoula, Miss., after a handful of Saline students made good on their promise to collect and donate used band instruments to middle schools still recovering from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.
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Students Audrey Gross, Lisa Schmidtke, Megan Johnson, Alex Iott, Chris Dunn and Natalie Gross delivered the assortment of instruments while on a six-day trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast over New Year's to help repair homes damaged by the hurricane.
It was Audrey, Natalie and Megan's second trip to the area. They spent a week along the Gulf Coast last year helping clean out damaged houses, clean up yards and distribute food to families.
This time, they wanted to bring something in addition to their hands and backs, and decided on band instruments after learning that many of the music programs in the area suffered from a shortage of instruments.
Treadwell Davis, the band director for William M. Colmer Middle School in Pascagoula said many children did not have the resources to buy instruments to replace ones lost in the disaster and that the schools have limited quantities. A number of the schools in Pascagoula are still closed from the hurricane, and may not reopen.
The Saline students took donated violins, clarinets, flutes and saxophones. Larger instruments, including French horns and trombones, were shipped down.
Alta Wood is the choir director at Colmer Middle School. She and her daughter were on hand to receive the instruments. They broke into tears at the sight.
The Saline students intend to continue collecting unused band instruments. Those wanting to donate an instrument should contact Audrey Gross at 944-5459 or aud_gross@hotmail.com.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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