YYO Instrument Returns and Donations

Greetings, Ypsilanti Youth ORchestra Community,

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought our YYO season to a screeching halt.  COVID interrupted the lives of many and impacted our ability to conduct our day-to-day operations. Between Spring 2020-Fall 2021, families borrowed musical instruments from us in good faith. Several instruments, including our much-requested violins, have yet to be returned. We realize that some students have graduated or taken a break from YYO. Our current YYO students now need those instruments for classes.

UPDATE (August 2024):

Thank you to those who have returned or donated instruments. Over the past two seasons, we have received some instruments to add to our instrument inventory. We’ve also received assistance organizing and cataloging our available instruments:

• February 2023: Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity (Eastern Michigan University) assisted in organizing and cataloging our instrument inventory.

• October 2023- YYO purchased two music stand storage carts to maximize our instrument storage space.

• Summer 2024- YYO parent volunteers in collaboration with our faculty and staff have updated our inventory records, tagged all available instruments, and will prepare instruments for distribution during Fall 2024.

As enrollment continues to grow, the need for instruments remains a priority. We are preparing for our 2024-25 season and many of our students will need an instrument to participate in their chosen class. We will make every playable instrument in our inventory available to families who need them, but we can only honor many of their requests with your help.

Ways to help

1) Please return instruments. If you borrowed an instrument from YYO and are no longer enrolled, please return it so another student can use it.

• We will accept Instrument Returns at Orientation on Saturday, September 14 from 9am-11am. Location: 510 Emerick Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48198.

• Families may drop off instruments during business hours (8:30 AM-5:00 PM, Monday-Friday) at The Back Office Studio, 13 N Washington Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48197.

•  Please include a copy of the Borrower’s Agreement or write the student’s name on a slip of paper inside the instrument case. This will allow us to update our records.

2) Donate an instrument. We will gladly accept instruments in playable condition, accessories, and instrument cleaning supplies.

• Our Wish List is available HERE.

• Our Instrument Donation Form is available HERE.

3) Volunteer to help prepare instruments for distribution.

A couple of our YYO families have volunteered to clean and prepare instruments for distribution. We also need help transporting instruments to our rehearsal site at the start of the semester to distribute to students who need them. Interested in volunteering? Email manager@ypsiyouthorch.org.

4) Support The YYO Swag Shop. The link to the online store is HERE. Proceeds benefit the purchase and repair of musical instruments.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely,

Ms. Matasha W. Allen, Director of Operations

Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra