Alabama band creates raffle for tornado relief

In “Sweet Home Alabama” Lynyrd Skynyrd asked, Does your conscience bother you? The Grade 4 Alabama Pipes & Drums are answering the call by creating an extensive raffle of donated piping and drumming goods with all proceeds going for the relief funds for victims of the recent devastating tornadoes in the Tuscaloosa.

“As we watched the tornadoes tear through the state of Alabama last Wednesday, our thoughts soon turned to how we could help the communities affected,” said piper Lisa Bable. The band decided to create a fundraising raffle and sent out the call to various vendors to contribute items.

“The response has been phenomenal,” Bable said. “We are overwhelmingly grateful to all the vendors who have given to our cause. So far we have donations committed for our effort from 17 people/companies.”

Items include practice chanters, bag covers, music books, CDs and vouchers, will money collected by the band going directly to relief efforts. The raffle will start the week of May 9th with details to be listed on the band’s website.

The list of contributors to date:  

• Chris Apps

• Scott Bable

• Bagpipediscs

• Canning Reedmakers

• Ken Eller

• Ceol Sean

• Bruce Gandy

• Highland Bagpipe Company

• J. Higgins

• McCallum Bagpipes

• John Recknagel

• Peterson Company

• The Piper’s Hut

• Barry Shears

• TrueFit Bagpipe Covers

• TyFry

• Wallace Bagpipes

The fundraising is the most recent effort put together by the piping and drumming community. In March, pipes|drums Magazine collected more than $2,300 in donations from readers for the Canterbury Caledonia Pipe Band organization, which was severely impacted by the Christchrch, New Zealand, earthquake. New Zealand pipe bands also got together for a concert to raise money for earthquake relief.