Music for Lifetime Achievement seeks donations of musical instruments

As they do every October, the not-for-profit organization Music for Lifetime Achievement (MFLA) and the Sheldon Concert Hall are conducting their annual collection drive to gather used and new musical instruments for underprivileged students at St. Louis area schools. Over the past four years, the MFLA instrument drives have collected almost 500 instruments, which have been recycled to kids in St. Louis City and County school districts who otherwise would not have access to an instrument, and to a variety of community music programs.

If you've got an instrument to donate, you can bring it to any concert this month at the Sheldon, or drop it off during normal business hours, which are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday though Friday. If you'd like to help but don’t have an instrument to donate, MFLA is also looking for financial contributions to help pay for necessary repairs of donated instruments and for accessories such as strings, reeds and sheet music.

For more information or to make a donation, call the Sheldon at 314-533-9900 or visit the MFLA Web site. MFLA will provide a "thank you" letter that serves as a tax deduction receipt for the value of the instruments or the funds donated.