Veterans music rehab program seeking donations of old cell phones

This month, old cell phones can make a difference and help veterans cope with post-traumatic stress disorders and other ailments that affect men and women at the VA Hospital. Through its Rock for Vets Music Therapy Program, The Rock Club, a membership-based program which encourages musicians of all ages and abilities to be grouped together in a band environment, is collecting discarded cell phones to be resold as a fundraiser.

Frank McIlquham, director of The Rock Club, explained that the cell phones will be given to Mobile Green, a South Pasadena company that helps nonprofit organizations raise money through cell-phone recycling. Mobile Green will refurbish the phones, sell them, and donate a portion of the proceeds directly to the Veterans Hospital’s music rehabilitation program, which provides veterans the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and play or sing as part of a musical group. Groups practice twice a week and, as they develop music skills, perform in public at a variety of locations both within the hospital and at community organizations and functions.
“To watch them from day one to seeing them perform in front of hundreds of people, to watch them grow with music, is overwhelming,” McIlquham said.
Cell phones may be dropped off at the following locations:
Long Beach Water Department, 1800
E. Wardlow Rd.
Orozco’s Auto Service, 3619 Atlantic
Ave.
Turner Chiropractic, 3530 Atlantic
Ave.
Performance Plus, 3910 Cherry Ave.
Hensle Acupuncture, 3821 Atlantic
Ave. Suite F
Go Catalyst, 430 East 1st St.
Long Beach Police Department West
ern Division, 1835 Santa Fe Ave.
Mailbox Plus, 2201 E Willow St.

Those who do not have an old cell phone and want to help may make a tax-deductible donation online at therockclub.net or by calling 866-597-1116.
The Rock Club’s Rock For Vets Band will be the special guests at The American Heroes 5K/10K and Family Fun Run on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 8am to noon, at the Los Angeles Sheriff Training Academy, 11515 S. Colima Rd., in Whittier.

More Information
therockclub.net/events.html