In a few weeks, I will return to Haiti to volunteer with the Marmelade Music School's summer camp. I first visited last summer, in coordination with BLUME Haiti, which has supported music schools and students across the country for many years. I found hard-working musicians there of all ages, pursuing artistry amid terribly difficult circumstances and making the most of far less luxury than we are accustomed to.

One of the challenges they face is simply the lack of commercial infrastructure. The people I met are resourceful and have learned to do much maintenance and repair on their own, but the materials are hard to come by. With no music stores to speak of, and no online retailers that will deliver there, a worn-out cello string or a chipped oboe reed can be extremely difficult to replace. To help, I plan to pack every nook and cranny of my suitcase with strings and reeds and whatnot to donate to the music school.

If you would like to contribute, I will use any donated funds to buy these essential supplies. I would also be happy to receive direct gifts of supplies, which I can deliver. Donations straight to BLUME Haiti would also be more than welcome; I can assure you that the organization makes good and efficient use of the funds.