Sun Cities Drum Arizona donates handmade drums to Choice Day Treatment Center

Drum Arizona, Inc., a Sun City-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting healing and wellness through rhythm, recently brought the gift of music, culture and joy to 60 participants at Choice Day Treatment Center in Glendale.

Choice Day Treatment Center is a nonprofit organization that provides daytime programs and compassionate care for individuals with developmental disabilities and special needs. The center serves adults with a wide range of disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome, intellectual and developmental disabilities and physical disabilities requiring wheelchairs or walkers. Trained caregivers provide a safe, supportive environment where participants enjoy meaningful activities and social interaction.

The Drum Arizona team was welcomed by staff and participants who were excited to experience a Native American drum circle. During the interactive session, participants learned simple rhythms, shared laughter and experienced the healing power of making music together.

What the participants did not know was that a special surprise awaited them.

At the conclusion of the drum circle, each of the 60 participants received a gift of their own 10-inch handmade Native American-style deerskin drum, complete with a handcrafted drumstick and carrying bag. The drums were theirs to keep and take home as a lasting reminder of the experience.

Every drum is handcrafted by Drum Arizona volunteers using genuine deerskin. Volunteers from Sun City, Peoria, Phoenix, Glendale, Surprise and El Mirage donate countless hours making drumsticks, assembling drums, painting each drum with a Native American-inspired animal and preparing every gift for its recipient.

Inside each carrying bag is a drum birth certificate, care instructions and information explaining the Native American symbolic meaning of the animal painted on that particular drum. Every drum is unique, making each gift personal and meaningful.

The 60 drums presented at Choice Day Treatment Center were donated free of charge through the generosity of Drum Arizona’s volunteers and supporters.

“This is about much more than giving away drums,” said Dr. Lydia A. Woods, founder of Drum Arizona. “We are giving individuals an opportunity to experience the joy of rhythm, to express themselves through music, and to take home something that reminds them they are valued and celebrated.”

This event also marked another milestone for Drum Arizona. During its nearly 11 years of service, the organization has now donated more than 1,100 handmade drums to children, veterans, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and others facing life’s challenges throughout Arizona.

For Drum Arizona, every donated drum represents far more than a musical instrument. It is a symbol of hope, healing, inclusion, and the power of community volunteers working together to make a lasting difference—one drum, one person, and one heartbeat at a time. Volunteers can call 404-217-2459 for more information.