Michael Johnathon, host of WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, is spearheading an initiative to collect musical instruments for those affected by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. The collection effort will run through February 15 at Willis Music locations in Kentucky, and until March 1 at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington.
WoodSongs, known for celebrating grassroots music and its artists, has previously supported communities affected by natural disasters in Kentucky. The program has already delivered over 2,000 donated instruments to musicians in need, and Johnathon hopes to double that number for North Carolina.
“I saw Governor Beshear speaking about the damage and was deeply moved. He said, ‘The camera lens isn’t wide enough to capture this much destruction,’” Johnathon recalled. “I felt compelled to act. There are so many musicians in the area who, after dealing with the loss of their homes, jobs, and families, will find comfort in the music they make. An instrument is a key to that comfort.”
One of the most memorable moments during a previous instrument delivery involved an elderly man who requested a Martin guitar—a prized, top-tier instrument. “He had spent 52 years playing it every night for his wife,” Johnathon shared. “When the tornado took his home and guitar, the only thing left was his wife, found 200 feet away. This man just wanted to sit by her grave and sing for her like he had for decades.”
Johnathon emphasized that while music cannot replace the losses suffered, it can offer solace and restore a sense of community. “You can’t bring back what was lost, but you can help restore a sense of home and remind people that they’re cared for.”
For the North Carolina initiative, there will be an additional truck for collecting instruments, with donations already pouring in, including 200 violins from Roanoke, Virginia. “We’re close to reaching our 1,000 goal,” Johnathon said. “We’ve even got an extra truck, so we’re aiming for even more. Warren Wilson College, a musical institution near Asheville, will be hosting a collection event on March 9.”
Though Hurricane Helene struck in late September, many families are still displaced, living in tents, and facing ongoing challenges. “The devastation is still visible,” Johnathon noted. “The rubble is 40 to 50 feet high, and families are still waiting for help.”
WoodSongs is focusing on collecting grassroots-friendly instruments such as guitars, banjos, mandolins, and fiddles, but they are also accepting standard school instruments like cellos, saxophones, and brass. Johnathon explained, “Schools lost entire music departments. If you have an instrument your child no longer uses, please consider donating it.”
Donated instruments should be gently used and in playable condition. Volunteers will spend a week polishing, cleaning, and restringing them to ensure they’re ready for distribution.
Instruments can be dropped off at Willis Music locations in Kentucky until February 15, and at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington through March 1. For those who wish to contribute but don’t have instruments to donate, monetary donations to cover truck rentals and fuel costs are also welcome. More details can be found at woodsongs.com/helene.
Johnathon concluded, “Love is the greatest transaction in the arts, and it’s a reminder of how loving and supportive our community can be. This is artists helping artists. It’s a reminder that the music community cares for one another.”
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