Sharing the Joy of Music: Salvation Army Collects Donated Instruments to send to Africa
*Retired officer John Aren with donated instruments ready to ship to Liberia
Music plays an important role at The Salvation Army, with its iconic brass band playing Christmas tunes in the winter, and at events all year round.
But it may not be widely known just how important a part it plays. Not only is it a crucial part at its very soul, but The Salvation Army is considered one of the largest music educators in the world. In addition, many at The Salvation Army consider the music divinely inspired.
For retired officer, John Aren, brass band music has been his main passion since childhood. So, when given the opportunity to share this passion with a group without the same background he was delighted.
Aren is part of a team of 10 from The Salvation Army on a trip to Liberia, Africa, to assist at a music camp and exchange musical experiences. They are taking with them donated brass band instruments, as well as percussion and keyboards.
Left: Chuck McDougall, Director of Emergency Disaster Services and Kevin Andrews, Maintenance Supervisor at The Salvation Army Great Lakes Divisional headquarters help pack instruments into boxes. Right: donated music stands
However, for Aren it is about more than teaching music theory, but also the cultural enrichment that introducing the genre to the region will create.
“This is an exchange program,” Aren said. “They're going to play their horns differently than we do. We can teach them some western theories and techniques, but they're going to pick those horns up and play them their way.”
The idea for an instrument drive began when he was accepted to assist at the music camp, run by The Salvation Army in Liberia. Then through a series of events he considers providential it became much more.
First, he mentioned the trip to his friend Abdul Saleh, who owns City Recyclers, a recycling management company in Detroit. Saleh is also an exporter, with family living in Liberia. Because of this personal connection, and a desire to help the people of Liberia, Saleh offered his services to transport donated instruments.
From there they launched the “Liberian Harmony Drive” – a drive calling for donations of unused instruments. Local media from FOX2 News brought exposure to the drive through a segment with Erica Francis.
*Box packed with donated instruments
Finally, Aren reached out to Kevin Powers, who owns and operates Michigan Instrument Repair in Monroe, and he agreed to fix any donated instruments not in working order.
As the drive gained exposure, they were even contacted by a brass band composer from the UK, Andrew Mackereth, who offered his music for free.
On Friday, February 16 they loaded up the instruments collected a total of 143 instruments and after a blessing from Salvation Army Great Lakes Divisional commander, Lt. Colonel Steve Merrit, sent them on their way. The excitement from both Aren’s team and the Liberian Salvation Army is palpable.
“When we told them we were bringing a container of brass band instruments over, the person on the other end of the line dropped the phone, and from the distance we heard at least a dozen people going ‘USA! USA!’” Aren said
*Left: Great Lakes Divisional Commander Steve Merritt, Right: retired officer John Aren
If you were inspired by this story and would like to help further The Salvation Army’s mission to Do The Most Good in Michigan, and across the world you can donate or volunteer at a corps near you.