Dave Dunklee and his wife CJ were watching Toby Keith on TV back in 2012 and he was asking for donations for the Wounded Warrior Project. They wanted to help out but after a little research found that some of the donations collected went to pay for administrative costs. The couple knew they could do better than that and set out to begin their own completely non-profit volunteer program where everything collected went directly to the veterans.
They chose to help using their love of music. Dave was a musician for over 50 years, teaching music in public schools for 20 of those years and performing professionally with various bands throughout his life. He now uses that experience and skill to teach guitar to disabled veterans, putting a smile where often there hasn't been one for a very long time.
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| photo from Veteran Program - The Healing Box Project Facebook page |
Dave and CJ decided the name "Healing Box Project" fit nicely coming from a relationship with relic guitars made from box crates or pieces of wooden boxes modified with a pole neck to which strings were attached. For the veterans, the healing begins with their first strum of a guitar.
This program raises money to purchase guitars and supplies for soldiers to use. While monetary donations are helpful, donations of guitars that people may have lying around the house unused are much appreciated as well.
Learning guitar helps the disabled veterans with their neurology, improves brain skills, and it takes away some of the stress related to coping with a life-changing injury. It also lets them feel like a part of something. Groups soon become friends and those friends quickly begin feeling like family.
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| photo from Veteran Program - The Healing Box Project Facebook page |
The Dunklees drive from the Lake of the Ozarks to Columbia every week to spend an entire day meeting with soldiers. Together the couple travels over 600 miles every month to make sure this project is a continued reality.
In addition to teaching guitar, Dave still regularly performs as well. You can catch him all over the lake area entertaining, raising awareness, and accepting donations for the Healing Box Project. This Saturday, August 3, 2019, you can enjoy Dave's show at our waterfront Cajun restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks.
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| photo from Veteran Program - The Healing Box Project Facebook page |
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