WILKESBORO – When officials cancelled MerleFest this month due to the threat of coronavirus, it meant more than a lost chance to hear Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss and Mavis Staples.

It was also a lost opportunity for students at Wilkes Community College, host of the annual music festival.

MerleFest helps fund critical programs at the college to serve students. For example, the festival provides $15,000 each year for the Doc Watson Student Emergency Fund, which in turn provides emergency grants for students to help with expenses in unpredictable situations – car repairs, gas, rent, Internet service for online classes, and sometimes even food.

Since 2013, the fund has awarded $77,618 to 114 students to help them continue their education.

“Life gets very difficult at times and I’m glad to know there are people in this world to help ease the burdens and trials that come along,” wrote one grateful student in 2017. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

And that was before the looming threat of recession – and layoffs for low-wage workers – that accompany a coronavirus pandemic.

“It is amazing what that little touch does for them,” said Allison Phillips, Executive Director of the Wilkes Community College Foundation.

But with the cancellation of MerleFest 2020, she said, “We won’t be able to do that.”

Donations to the Doc Watson Student Emergency Fund can be made either at the Wilkes Community College Foundation or at MerleFest.org. 

Another anonymous donor has pledged to match up to $150,000 in up-front costs the Foundation incurred – down-payments with artists, merchandise, etc. – before the festival was cancelled.

Donations to help pay those expenses can also be made to the Wilkes Community College Foundation.

For those who had tickets for the 2020 festival, organizers offer three options: Convert your purchase to a tax-deductible donation; roll your tickets forward to MerleFest 2021; or request a refund.

Contact the MerleFest box office by email at [email protected] or by phone at (800) 343-7857. Ticket holders must contact the box office by April 15 to confirm their choice, or their tickets automatically will be rolled forward to the 2021 festival.

Once the Foundation covers its expenses for the cancelled 2020 festival, said Phillips, “We’ll be here in full gear to prepare for another successful MerleFest in 2021!”