THE HEALING BOX PROJECT

To continue to provide the gift of a guitar and lessons to every disabled soldier at the Harry S. Truman VA Hospital who wants to participate in our group sessions. (meeting the requirements of being 100% disabled by the VA is determined by the hospital staff and program advisers, not The Healing Box Project)

To expand to other locations and provide the same program to more disabled Veteran heroes.

We have a strong steady program and relationship with the VA hospital Special Programs administrators and assisting staff allowing us to continue to have a facility open to us for use, a set schedule for lesson time and reciprocal "behind the scene" connections to assist with smooth operation, including travel pay for veterans in our program. Our strategies to remain steadfast and in place will remain the same.
We are 2 ordinary people doing extraordinary things with a little help from our friends.

We will continue to apply for grants, raise funds through music performances and continue to search for guitar players/teachers who will be dedicated to our project, providing more than guitars and lessons, we've seen how new friendships have helped these combat-torn men and women socialize, gather together other than guitar lessons, and truly have found JOY through playing guitar.

Perhaps it's a "God Thing" but it seems every time we are running low on funding, have a need to change a scheduled lesson or performance or find a challenge, someone or some group steps up to help our cause.
We are capable of continued success because we are the only people doing what we are doing. There is no competition. The need is obvious, the people are deserving, an average of 22 veterans carry out suicide every day and we want to set an example that "if we can do something for our veterans, so can you" ...we will do what is necessary to continue our mission to "give back" a gift of music in appreciation of the sacrifices made in their lives to give us the things we enjoy everyday.
Part of being capable is applying for grants and asking for donations. We have the knowledge and time necessary to do online research and application accompanied by social media connection, while doing in-person presentations and music performance fundraising.
We need more funding to expand !

We have provided over 200 disabled combat veterans the gift of music. We have gifted 109 guitars, but, changed the lives of 200+ families and countless numbers of those friends and family with the gift of "caring". The guitar is a vessel, a reminder to those who "give 'er a strum" there is a tomorrow, life is tolerable, there are people who share the same feelings, there are people who understand because they've been in those boots....and that even those who have not been to war can care for the well-being of another person, even a stranger.
Our "strangers" become "family", and it's because of the music that comes from that one guitar...that one guitar that becomes a friend...

"Call from Derek"...
"I almost ended it all last night, but, I spotted my guitar (the one we gave him) leaning against the wall across the room from me. So I picked it up, sat back down and played a few chords...and things got better...thank you guys"