Few things are more instrumental in a young person’s life than music, but in many parts of rural Appalachia, getting your hands on the finest instruments in the world is like hitting a high note without a voice.
Fortunately, through a partnership with KHS America, a band instrument distributor based in Nashville, Mission of Hope was able to deliver the best of the best to students at Cumberland Gap High School at no charge.
"It's a really neat same thing to see them just as joyful as they can be over music," Executive director of Mission of Hope Emmette Thompson said.
The new instruments were a bigger hit than any song on the billboard charts.
"We are really excited about these because we haven't had a lot of new instruments in a long time," student Chyara Cosgriff said.
These are the types of things Mission of Hope does year-round to give more opportunities to those in rural Appalachia, but right now is their most important season of all.
The annual Mission of Hope Blue Barrel Christmas Drive kicks off Friday, Nov. 17.
You can donate non-perishable food items, new clothes, new toys and hygiene items at various locations across the area.
The drive runs through Dec. 5. To learn more, go to missionofhope.org.