LEXINGTON, Ky. — Michael Johnathon is working to connect others through the beauty of music. 

The folk musician known for his work on "WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour" is helping those affected by Hurricane Helene find some joy. He was inspired by the devastation born through the 2021 tornadoes in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana, creating the WoodSongs Flood Relief Effort. 

"Using your music for good work is the equivalent (of), or even better, than having a hit record," he said. 

His efforts grew after the 2022 eastern Kentucky floods, delivering nearly 2,000 instruments to musicians who needed them after the storms. When Hurricane Helene swept across several Appalachian states this year, he knew it was time to start the drive back up.

"The storms didn't just take away their cars and their homes and their businesses and everything else," he said, as he described the destruction he saw on television. "It took away the music of their communities, what made their homes feel like home."

Hurricane Helene made landfall Sept. 24 in Florida as a Category 4 storm. As it moved north, it brought catastrophic flooding to parts of western North Carolina. The storm killed more than 200 people and caused billions of dollars in damage.

With the support of communities across several states, including right here in Kentucky, Johnathon and his team are working to collect as many instruments as they can to send to musicians in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.

Hayward Wilkerson, Kentucky Theatre director, said he knew it was a no-brainer as soon as Johnathon asked if they wanted to be a drop-off center. 

"I shudder to think how many people lost musical instruments," he said. "If you're a musician, if you've ever played anything, you know how important that is. It's like losing your right arm. To have Michael do this is just a wonderful thing that we were thrilled to partner with.”

Johnathon said there is hope in the community as he reflected on the collection's growth. 

“You would be surprised at how passionate, invested, people get in wanting to be supportive and helpful and do something that matters ... music matters, art matters and this is a way to show it," he said.

The drive is ongoing, with plans to deliver instruments to Asheville, North Carolina, early next year. Visit the WoodSongs website for details on how to donate.