It’s time for a new Comments for a Cause. The calendar page has turned and we are headlong into 2020 and a new year full of opportunities. While parts of 2019 were very difficult for me personally there was also a great deal of joy and happiness that occurred. One of the reasons that I continue to keep this blog active is because it serves as somewhat of a journal for my own life. Even if no one else reads It’s Just Life it helps me to write some of this stuff down. When I look back over 2019 there have definitely been highs and lows but on the blog the highs have all been linked to the monthly Comments for a Cause recipients. I am so happy that Chris and I have been able to continue this project since 2011.

This past month we highlighted The Haven of Transylvania County as the recipient of our Comments for a Cause. The Haven is an 18 bed overnight shelter that serves as a temporary shelter for homeless men and women in our area. As with any shelter there is never enough room but this is one place that is doing a great job of providing not only a place to sleep but a safe and secure environment with laundry facilities, showers, mail service and telephone messaging services as well. The staff is trained to help those who come into their doors and they are making a difference in our community. Thanks to all our your comments on blog posts during the busy month of December Chris and I are happy to report that we are making a donation of $145 to The Haven for their work in our county. Thank you to all who have commented during the month.

If you know anything about me at all you know that music has always been an important part of my life. When I was younger I was always entertained with music that my parents shared with me. I have vivid memories of being awoken on Saturday mornings to the strains of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus being blasted through the parsonage when Daddy felt that it was time to get up and get busy on our Saturday chores. He was a lover of music and exposed me to a wide variety of types over the years for which I am grateful. I realized that I have yet to really feature any “cause” that specifically highlighted music as a Comments for a Cause so I am especially excited about this one.

Music has such power and I am a firm believer that it can provide much to those who listen and to those who perform. That is why when I found out that a former high school friend, Daniel Levy, (click here to see his profile pic on Project: Music Heals Us where he is featured as a Teaching Artist) and fellow Glenn Tone from back in our days at John Glenn High School was part of an amazing non-profit that promoted music I jotted down the organization for future reference.

Project: Music Heals Us is an incredible non profit organization whose mission is as follows:

To provide encouragement, education and healing through bringing high-quality live music performances and interactive programming to marginalized communities with limited ability to access it themselves, with a focus on elderly, disabled, rehabilitating, incarcerated, and homeless populations. 

How can this not be a wonderful thing? Project: Music Heals Us has presented over 200 free classical music concerts in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice centers, retirement homes, food pantries, centers for individuals with disabilities, correctional facilities, homeless shelters and refugee centers since the inception just a little over five years ago.

I could ramble on and on about all that this group does but I won’t. Instead I will allow you the opportunity to watch a short video featuring the founder and co-artistic director Molly Carr and co- artistic director Andrew Janss as they describe and share a bit of the journey and purpose of this creative group of artists. Take five minutes and watch this video – I promise you it will be worth it.

Thank you so much to this talented group of dedicated musicians who are making a difference in the world with their gifts. What an amazing thing these concerts are for those who are fortunate enough to be in their audiences. This month I am thrilled to feature Project: Music Heals Us as our Comments for a Cause charity. As always for every comment made on It’s Just Life on any post during the month of January 2020 Chris and I will make a 50 cent donation (capped at $500) to this organization to help with their efforts to promote music and all that it has to offer to others. Special thanks to Daniel Levy who introduced me to this group and for his part in helping to heal through music in so many different environments.

Make sure to connect with this group by checking out their links listed at the bottom of this post. Why not start commenting today? Tell me – how has music made a difference in your life?

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