Friday, February 5, 2021

GOOD BYE 2020!! HELLO 2021!!

Wow! What a year 2020 has been, no one in our life time would of thought we would have all of these challenges we had to face because of the pandemic. It was a difficult year for everyone, especially the music industry. Our Contra Costa County Chapter was not able to hold any classes due to the pandemic. We are currently looking into starting up Zoom classes and are working out the kinks.

Music is so important, as is sports, for children. Kids need an outlet to help them cope with life, and to learn the tools to become a responsible adult and lead a productive life.

Stay tuned for updates!

Thank you everyone for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Barbara Gorin

Director - President, Contra Costa County Chapter
Overseer of Fundraising and PR
Guitars Not Guns
Cell: 925-785-8342
Email; Barbara.Gorin@guitarsnotguns.org

Contra Costa County California Blog Site: http://guitarsnotguns.blogspot.com/

National site: www.guitarsnotguns.org

Guitars Not Guns is a federally exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

Providing guitars and lessons to deserving kids since 2000

DECEMBER 2020

A BIG Thank You to the Martinez Music Mafia for your generous donation of $500 to our music program! We look forward to resuming classes at the Martinez library and elsewhere in Contra Costa County when it is safe to do so! We miss teaching our kids and we miss our amazing volunteer instructors. Without the support from our community, such as this awesome donation, our program would not be possible! Happy Holidays to everyone and we look forward to a better and brighter New Year! #martinezmusicmafia #childrensmusiccharity #music#guitarsnotguns #thankful #keepmovingforward #nevergiveuphope #keepmusiclive #guitar #ourfuturegeneration

Martinez Music Mafia

How You Can Help

Guitars Not Guns, Inc. in California is entirely a volunteer organization. It has no employees so all donations are used to fulfill Our Mission to provide free guitars and lessons to foster kids, at risk youth and other deserving children ages 8 to 18 years old.

We need volunteer guitar instructors, classroom assistants, grant writers, bookkeepers, fundraisers and program leaders. You do not have to know how to play guitar to be a volunteer.

To volunteer go the "Volunteer" page and follow the instructions. We and the kids can always use your help.

How The Program Works

We "loan" guitars and guitar accessories to our students that they are to use to practice and carefully maintain for eight (8) weeks of one hour per week classes. The students and their guardians sign a lease contract for the equipment and most care for the guitars. The guitar may be the only personal item the student has ever possessed since foster children may move multiple times each year from guardian to guardian or facility to facility.. The object of the contract is to teach the students to take care of possessions. The students are not told this but, upon successful completion of the first level of classes, the guitars and accessories will be given to them to keep at no cost. The final class is a party to celebrate completion of the eight week program. The students play and we bring in accomplished musicians, some that are their age, to motivate them to further study with us and independently. For some, it is the first time they have been exposed to live music.