A local band is teaming up with the Lethbridge Girls Rock Camp after its storage locker was broken into earlier this month.
Camp coordinator Silvana Campus has been helping young girls build self esteem and confidence through music for the past five years.
“We host a week-long day camp for girls ages eight to 17,” she said. “They come in the mornings and learn how to play instruments and then in the afternoon, they take part in workshops and form a band and write songs during the week.”
But over the Labour Day long weekend, a significant portion of their guitars and basses were stolen.
“It was really frustrating,” Campus said. “We spend a lot of time and effort to do this and we kind of just want to do a good thing in the community.
“So it was a bit of a blow to realize someone had done this.”
After notifying police, Campus took to social media hoping someone might recognize the stolen instruments and come forward.
Instead, a number of guitars started showing up on her doorstep.
Still, Campus says some things will be harder to replace than others.
“We had a really great three-quarter scale guitar, perfect for little hands. We had a lefty guitar,” she explained.
“Some of these things we purchased specifically for what they are and our campers.”
The Chevelles have also stepped forward, offering to help raise money, teaming up with the camp for an event called “Gear Up,” on Friday, Sept. 29 starting at 9 p.m.
Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards replacing the stolen instruments.
“It just affected all of us when we heard that these instruments were stolen,” musician Tim Carter said.
“We hate it when hear that any instruments were stolen, but especially from a camp for kids and for girls.
“It was just atrocious and everyone wanted to do something to help.”
With the community behind them, Campus expects the camp to be back up and running next summer, just in time for the next group of young rockers.
Comments