Meet Michael Pelaia, our featured volunteer from Atlanta!
Get to know our volunteers!
Do you volunteer at a specific hospital? I volunteer at Atlanta VA / Eagles Nest Community Living Center
How long have you been volunteering with Musicians On Call? 4 months
Are you a Volunteer Guide or Volunteer Musician? Guide
What is your occupation outside of MOC? President / Hooks Unlimited / music production services for radio station research
Do You Have Any Hidden Talents? I sing really great in the shower…like ‘winner of the Voice’ great. Weird…it doesn’t sound good anywhere else. Maybe it’s the water.
What is your story? What connects you with music and why do you volunteer with MOC? I first got involved when MOC was expanding to the Atlanta area and helped connect your team with some media contacts in and around our city to help make the expansion a success. I then applied to be a guide since I believe so strongly in the mission of MOC. The experience of giving back is all I hoped it would be, and more.
What makes MOC different from your other volunteer experiences? I enjoy my involvement with MOC because unlike sending a check to a charitable organization, I get to see the real time and immediate emotional impact the music gives them. Additionally, I get as much out of the ‘friendly companionship’ we bring to the residents when we are there as they do. Being able to show our appreciation to the veterans AND the nurses/staff is very fulfilling.
Has your life changed because of your experience with MOC? Yes – as I have grown older, my motto is more about ‘experiences’ over stuff. Life’s too short to just consume and take. This lets me give back. And I can keep the memories with me.
What is your favorite #MOCmoment? There’s a resident that loves Me And Bobby McGee (the Janis Joplin version). The musicians have done that for her a number of times. Hearing her move her toes and snap her fingers and sing “La da da la la la Bobby Mcgee yeah” makes me smile, and sometimes it makes me tear up. I enjoying watching her experience the music as much as she enjoys us performing it.