Guidance Center of Westchester Seeks Instrument Donations

From The Guidance Center of Westchester: The Guidance Center of Westchester is looking for donations of musical instruments in working condition for a newly launched music program that offers people with mental illness new ways to express their creative energies. The new music courses are part of the agency’s mental health rehabilitation program, PROS.

PROS (Personalized Recovery-Oriented Services) helps more than 150 adults with serious mental illness achieve personal life goals through clinical treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation. At The Guidance Center of Westchester, PROS operates much like a small campus, where participants choose from a variety of courses offered throughout the day.

Participants take part in courses created to help them improve their life skills or coping strategies. TGCW’s PROS offers traditional courses in such areas as clinical counseling, vocational skills, goal setting, integrated health and wellness, and basic living skills, as well as more creative courses.

One of the popular music options, Music to our Ears, allows participants to discover music in a way to reduce anxiety while increasing focus. Counselors use music lessons as a medium for participants to express their creativity and gain confidence by discovering a new talent.

“Our new music programs are incredibly popular,” says Vito Tomanelli, LMSW, PROS recovery counselor. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of instruments and our participants can’t afford to buy them. That’s why we’re looking for donations.”

The agency is in need of gently used guitars including bass, classical and string instruments and percussion instruments. They also need microphones, recording devices, PA systems, speakers, lighting equipment, video recording devices, and turntables.

If you can make a donation, please contact PROS@TheGuidanceCenter.org or 914-613-0700 x7062.

Photo courtesy of The Guidance Center of Westchester