Vancouver Academy of Music
WishList: https://vancouveracademyofmusic.com/support-vam/donate-an-instrument/
Contact: VAM administration admindirector@vam.ca
Guitars for Vets
WishList/donation drop off location finder: https://vetscanada.org/english/guitars-for-vets
Drop off c/o Long & MaQuade Music Stores, Attn: Guitars for Vets
368 Terminal Avenue, Vancouver, BC Phone: (604) 734-4886
Email: vancouver@long-mcquade.com
I have an upright piano with bench that I am willing to donate. Will you accept this type of large item?
Katie
Hello Katie, thank you for your offer. You would need to contact Downtown Eastside Studio Society directly. CharityWishList.ca does not accept donations.
But the charity listed (Downtown Eastside Studio Society) on the same page you posted to would likely be thrilled to accept your donations of a piano as they accept musical instruments.
Wish list: http://studiosociety.ca/donate
Please contact them at 604-568-9335 or email: info@studiosociety.ca for pick-up/drop off details.
412 East Cordova St.
Vancouver, BC
V6A 1L8
Sincerely, Michelle Beaupre, CharityWishList.ca
I have an upright piano that I am willing to donate. Will you accept this type of large item?
Hi Jenny, thank you for asking and the offer of a piano. CharityWishList.ca doesn’t accept any items itself. The website is meant to help people find charities near them that are interested in what you want to give away, and then you would contact the charity directly. Pianos are a really tough item to place for many reasons. I would suggest you try local churches, schools, retirement homes near you. Or Royal Canadian Legions, or music schools who may know of a child in need if you can’t find a charity. If that doesn’t work, maybe a pub who would give you gift certificates in exchange and then you could donate the gift certificates if you want to a charity near you. I hope this helps. – Michelle Beaupre, Owner, CharityWishList.ca
Hello. I’m wondering if you know of any charities or organizations that help low income elementary students with musical instruments so they can participate in their school band program? These are students who will not be able to participate otherwise. Thank you very much for any help.
Hi Jess, yes, try Vancouver Public Library https://www.vpl.ca/instruments
I have a upright Sherwood Manning Piano that I would like to donate. Do you accept and how would I go about donating?
Hi Cathy, thank you for the offer of a piano. CharityWishList.ca is like a directory to help you find charities that are interested in the types of things you want to give away. I actually don’t accept any items myself. But I do know of a Vancouver Charity that contacted me recently. I will let you know if they want me to send you their contact information. Located in Vancouver.
Pianos are really hard to find new homes for, since they tend to cost money to move, and there are a lot of used pianos out there that are available from people inheriting but not themselves playing. When I do find an organization interested, they tend to only want one and then it’s a search all over again. Good to try local churches, schools, retirement homes, music schools … I’ll let you know if the charity I contacted is interested in a potential piano donation. Thanks, Michelle
Hello Michelle,
Firstly, thank you for the service you offer ~ music is an important part of life!
Secondly, I have an upright Heintzman piano & bench for which I seek to find a new home. It has a beautiful tone. I’m in North Vancouver so are you aware of a Greater Vancouver area charity that may wish for such a donation? In the meantime, I’ll make inquiries myself.
Thank you again.
Hi Sheila, thank you for your appreciation. Pianos are very difficult to place due to the potential for additional costs for moving the piano and possible repairs being more than simply purchasing an electronic keyboard with piano sounds. It’s probably the most difficult item to rehome especially since normally only one would be wanted so it is hard to build a database of interested charities. You may want to check with your local music schools, churches, daycares, Canadian legions, music stores (you might have better luck selling it and then donating the proceeds to the charity of your choice.) You can also try charities near you that may want to add it to an online auction. I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if you find a charity that would want other pianos. I would be happy to add them to my list. Thanks. Michelle Beaupre, CharityWishList.ca
I have a Wurlitzer organ in good shape that I would like to donate. We live in Burnaby and are moving and I’m unable to take it with us.
Hi Terry, are you talking great big theatre Wrulitzer organ? You could try contacting the Vancouver Academy of Music. https://vancouveracademyofmusic.com/support-vam/donate-an-instrument/
If that doesn’t work out, let me know … and include the following information: Do you have a year, size, model and photo? I could try to find you a charity interested. Would you be delivering it or would that be on the charity to arrange and pay for delivery? How many stairs to get to it? Churches or Church halls may be interested in something like that. Or university chapels. But I would suggest you start out with you contacting the Vancouver Academy of Music. They appreciate instrument donations and they give tax receipts. – Michelle Beaupre, CharityWishList.ca
Hi, do you have any recommendations on where I can donate used piano books, sheet music and binders of music? Songs are mainly love songs, or songs of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s.
Hi Michelle, Piano music often has guitar chords also. If your sheet music has chords you could try donating to Guitar for Vets
WishList/donation drop off location finder: https://vetscanada.org/english/guitars-for-vets
Drop off c/o Long & MaQuade Music Stores, Attn: Guitars for Vets
368 Terminal Avenue, Vancouver, BC Phone: (604) 734-4886
Email: vancouver@long-mcquade.com
If that doesn’t work for you, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Michelle Beaupre, CharityWishList.ca
Hello,
Do you know of any charities that may be interested in an upright grand piano? It’s in excellent condition and I would like to find it a good home.
Hello Emma, I have left a message for an organization to see if they would be interested in the piano. I will email you if they are interested in learning more about it. In the meantime, you may want to try music schools and regular schools and churches, retirement homes and legion halls. They tend to be good sources for interest in real pianos, whereas the general public seems to rather go with electronic pianos due to their portability and easy upkeep. Thank you for your efforts to re-home the piano. – Sincerely, Michelle Beaupre
Old organ in good condition to donate
Hi Ma, I have emailed an organization that might be a good fit. I will let you know when I hear back from them. Note that CharityWishList.ca doesn’t collect anything itself. But I am happy to try to connect you with a charity or in this case more likely an organization that would be interested in receiving an organ. You may want to try music schools, churches, choirs in your area too. Best to have photos ready to show them, and details like make and model, serial number and year made (for pianos that info is usually under the top board.) Thanks, Michelle Beaupre, CharityWishList.ca
Hi, I have an old guitar – Yamaha G-228 with a little body damage – that I would like to give away. Can you help me figure out what to do?
All the best,
Chris
Hi Christine, there is a wonderful program called “Guitars for Vets” that would be the perfect solution for you. https://vetscanada.org/english/guitars-for-vets
You can bring the guitar into any Long & McQuade store across Canada. Go to the Guitars for Vets website and there is more info about the program, and a link to find the nearest to you Long & McQuade store. According to the program info, Long & McQuade will fix it up before the program gifts it to a Vet. I would like to know how the experience goes for you, so please don’t hesitate to send me an update on your donation experience. Thanks, Michelle Beaupre, CharityWishList.ca
Do you consider accepting a donation of a good condition Kimball piano?
Please let me know.
Thanks.
Peggy
Hi Peggy, CharityWishList.ca is like a directory. I don’t accept any items of any sort. Thank you for wanting to find a new home for your piano.
I suggest reaching out to local music schools and asking if either they or their students would be interested.
You may also want to try regular schools and/or school boards. Daycares. Retirement homes. University music schools for their school music practice labs. Banquet halls, churches are also a good resource as they can usually get volunteers to move things, and may want it for their church hall or as something to sell at a yard sale etc. Hope this helps.
Best to have a photo available when you reach out. And if you open the top lid of the piano, there is normally a model and serial number engraved on the far back wall of the piano, not far from the lid. That will help with identification of the piano and potential value if you do an Internet search for its value.
Pianos are one of the most difficult items to rehome since electronic keyboards are so great sounding now and lightweight/portable/relatively inexpensive. And there is usually a cost associated with a donated piano – moving, tuning, repairs.
You also may want to consider converting it into a desk or shelving unit – Pinterest has some great ideas.
But there are likely some music students out there that would LOVE to have a real piano. That is likely your best chance at finding it a new home. Unfortunately, when I do find charities that want a piano, they only want one and then it is back to drawing board to find more charities that are interested.
I hope the above info helps,
Sincerely,
Michelle Beaupre
CharityWishList.ca
Hi
Wondering if you can suggest an organization in Vancouver or surrounding area that would be happy to recieve a donation of a full size drum kit in mint condition.
Hello Zee, I have reached out to one of the organizations regarding the drum kit. I will contact you again once I hear back. Thank you for reaching out.
Sincerely,
Michelle Beaupre
CharityWishList.ca
Hello Zee, I have not found a charity interested in the drum kit. I can suggest you try contacting local music schools and even regular schools with music departments. They may have students that can not afford a kit, or perhaps they can use in their music department. Hope this suggestion is helpful. Sincerely, Michelle Beaupre, CharityWishList.ca
Hello Michelle,
I have a lovely upright piano looking to donate to a charity/new home.
From the thread above I see how hard it is to do, but I wonder if you might know any charity that would be interested.
I will continue to look at local schools, churches, legions as well.
Thank you,
Ken
Hi Kanaiya, you are on the right track. Schools, churches, legions are great places to start. You can also try recreation centres and any place that holds events. You can also try music schools and offer to a student with a keen interest but maybe no funds to purchase a piano. Unfortunately it can be difficult to find interest in real pianos since they often mean a moving fee for the recipient so not really free. May also want to post a note at a local music store if they have a bulletin board. You may also want to try the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre (604)251-4844 http://www.vafcs.org/contact/
Hope this helps,
Michelle Beaupre
CharityWishList.ca
Hello,
I am looking for a Piano for Windsor Hall, a private school located in Richmond, BC.
Please feel free to contact us at info@canstarlearning.com or 604-285-7766.
Thank you!
No longer needed. Thank you!
Hi,
Another upright piano looking for a home. I have read the info above and will follow suggestions above on schools, halls, churches and will post at local music schools. But if anyone have reached out recently please let me know.
Hi Susan, I just left a voice message at a Vancouver organization. If I hear back from them and they show interest in a piano donation, I will let you know. Thanks for going to the effort of finding the piano a new home.
Michelle Beaupre
CharityWishList.ca