Musicians On Call Volunteers Share Healing Power of Music with Veterans Nationwide

Musicians On Call (MOC), a nonprofit that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities, will bring volunteers to VA hospitals in cities across the country including Atlanta, Baltimore, Nashville, Denver and more to share the healing power of music as part of National Salute to Veteran Patients Week.

During these special visits, Volunteer Guides and Volunteer Musicians go room to room to play a song for patients as part of MOC’s Bedside Performance Program.

In addition to the hospital visits, MOC is launching a specialty Music Heals merchandise collection honoring Veterans. With this collection, MOC is encouraging recording artists and MOC supporters to post photos of themselves sporting the limited edition designs on social media using the hashtag #MusicHealsVets.

Proceeds from the campaign will support MOC’s Veterans programs throughout the year. The merch is available for purchase at www.musiciansoncall.org/merch.

“We are indebted to our Veterans for their incredible sacrifices for our country, and it is our honor to be able to serve them regularly through the healing power of music,” said Musicians On Call President & CEO Pete Griffin, “We are grateful to our talented volunteers for visiting VA hospitals across the country and sharing the joy of live music with the patients, especially during National Salute to Veteran Patients Week.  Their support, and that of everyone who participates in our exclusive merchandise campaign, is instrumental in helping us continue to bring music to Veterans year after year.”

MOC has ongoing Bedside Performance Programs visiting 14 VA facilities nationwide throughout the year, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Denver, Nashville, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Phoenix. To date, MOC volunteers have performed for more than 60,000 patients, families and caregivers at VA facilities. These one-on-one interactions between musician and patient have a powerful effect of restoring normalcy, sharing joy and even bringing medical benefits.

One VA caregiver noted about the program, “A Veteran who seemed particularly uninterested came alive when your volunteer musician broke into a classic George Jones song. His wife told me that was the first time she’d seen him smile since he had been admitted.”

For more information about Musicians On Call and the specialty Music Heals merchandise collection, visit www.musiciansoncall.org

About Musicians On Call (MOC)

Musicians On Call (MOC) was founded in 1999 with the mission of bringing live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities ranging from children’s hospitals to adult facilities, VA hospitals and hospices. To date, its volunteers have played for over 700,000 patients, families and caregivers across the country. By delivering live, in-room performances to patients undergoing treatment or unable to leave their beds, they add a dose of joy to life in a healthcare facility.

MOC supporters over the years include Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Justin Timberlake, Ed Sheeran, Reba, Gavin DeGraw, Darius Rucker, Pharrell, Amos Lee, Nick Jonas, Rachel Platten and many more. For more information, visit www.musiciansoncall.org.