GREEN COVE SPRINGS – While Rockin’ for Stockins lasted only six hours on Sunday, Dec. 14, Paul and Lisa Wane spent more than six weeks collecting toys and preparing for the event to reward children ahead of the holidays. 

And after a day of much-needed sleep on Monday, they still had toys and instruments to deliver a week after the wildly successful party at the Boogerville Hideout. 

The Wanes’ Rising Stars: Guitars for Kids program has gifted more than 500 instruments to children in Northeast Florida to provide alternatives to trouble, drugs, truancy, cellphones and computer games. 

The fifth annual Rockin’ for Stockins attracted a record gathering of 204 guests, Lisa said. Children left with a free bag of toys, a photo with Santa, crafts and memories. And some left with a free bicycle won in a raffle. 

“What I will remember most is just the joy, just the whole spirit of the volunteers and other organizations that stepped up and pitched in,” Paul said. “I'm just kind of in a fog [Monday]. It was a lot of work to get to yesterday. And now that the adrenaline dump is done, I'm pretty exhausted right now—quite a bit of work. 

“We put a lot of miles, and we still have some gifts to deliver. We already pre-delivered six instruments before yesterday's event, and we have five more to go to people who had transportation issues or whose cars couldn't fit some of the gifts. We'll take it to them. So, it's not over yet.” 

One of the highlights of the day-long event was live music from several young bands, including the Groovin’ Knights, which featured three of the 13 members who received their first instruments through the Rising Star program, and the Shopping Mall Guerrillas. All three members of that band – guitarist Henry Carter, bassist Matthew Hallowell and drummer Austin Girouard – are students at Keystone Heights High and about to record their first album. All are also part of the Rising Stars family. 

“We just want these kids to know something positive,” Paul said.