GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Children attending the Rockin’ for Stockins' program at the Boogerville Hideout will leave with a bag of gifts and, hopefully, a song in their hearts.

The Rising Star Guitars For Kids fulfills Paul and Lisa Wane’s mission to unite the community with “the magic of music, where individuals are provided platforms that showcase their talents and bring their dreams to reality.”

The Rockin’ for Stockins' event on Sunday, Dec. 3, at Boogerville Hideout is a culmination of the couple’s commitment to providing children with alternatives to cellphones, video games and substance abuse. For years, the Wanes have gifted hundreds of free instruments to their community.

“What’s so good about this year’s Rockin’ for Stockins’ is we’re going to have some of our Rising Stars play two 30-minute sets,” Paul Wane said. “It’s incredible to see it come full circle.

“Once you’re a Rising Star, you’re a Rising Star for life. These kids build bands together. They write music together.”

The Wanes host two events annually at Boogerville, including the “Jumpin’ and Jivin’ Juneboree” in the summer. Children are treated to games, face-painting, bounce houses, food and, of course, music each time.

From noon to 6 p.m., the first 150 children will get a photo and workshop with Santa Claus, a gift bag, a meal voucher, an event T-shirt, toys and an instrument.

“We put a little toy instrument in there. Not every child gets full-sized instruments, but every child gets a toy instrument – even if it’s a harmonica, a ukulele, a maraca, recorder,” Lisa Wane said.

And once a child accepts an instrument, they become a Rising Star.

“The significant part of music for these kids, especially those with special needs, is it gives them something to be in control of that has a huge impact on their independence,” Wane said. “It’s important that kids have a chance to have a voice in how they will live. Music can be that voice.

“I try to keep the phones and the game controllers out of their hands so they can use their minds to be creative.”

The event is free, but donations to the foundation will be accepted.

Wane gained national notoriety a year ago when he played a blistering guitar version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars-Tennessee Titans final regular season game. By then, Rising Stars had already given more than 200 instruments away. Days later, Wane appeared at AMIKids of Clay County and donated an entire music studio, including guitars, a public address system, amplifiers, bass, drums, keyboards, a mixing board and lighting.

“This whole thing has been humbling,” he said.

Wane accepts instruments used by fellow musicians, the community, or in remembrance of loved ones to extend their legacies. They are repaired and restored. Keystone Heights’ guitar maker Jay Murphy repurposes many of the guitars.

“So ever since I was a little kid, if I could get my hands on a guitar, I would give it to someone else and say, ‘Hey, let’s jam together.’ I’ve been doing this my whole life, which really inspired Guitars for Kids,” Wane said.