CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- One music store owner in Chesterfield does his best to help friends and strangers in need and hit a high note in life.
At Wholesale Guitars on Hull Street Road in Chesterfield customers can pick up an instrument, buy strings or an amp, but owner Steve Bryant also offers lessons in generosity.
"To us, it is about giving back to the community," Bryant said. "If we can make someone’s life a little bit easier, that is what makes it all worthwhile to me."
The 48 year-old from Chesterfield prides himself on giving. When someone finds themselves in a pinch financially or emotionally Steve provides a big shoulder to lean on.
"If I can help someone feel better about themselves then they will help somebody down the road," Bryant said.
Steve organizes concert fundraisers for people and organizations in need. From the Wounded Warrior program and Autism Society.
“It doesn’t matter if you know them or not knowing them. It’s just letting them know that there are some people out there that care,” Bryant said.
Last Christmas, Steve and his merry elves delivered a sleigh full of gifts to little Emily Hubbel an eight-year-old living with leukemia.
"Emily touched my heart from the beginning from the first time I met her," Bryant said. "It was worth a million dollars, it was worth $10 million -- not enough money in the world that could pay for the smiles it put on those children’s faces."
"Emily touched my heart from the beginning from the first time I met her," Bryant said.
Bryant and his friends also stepped up raising money for little Ryan Morgan -- an eight-year-old battling a severe case of epilepsy.
“He immediately reached out and asked ‘What can I do to help,” said Ryan’s mother, Anita. “He puts everyone ahead of himself. He does that. That is just who he is.”
Anita moved the family from Chesterfield to Duke University Medical Center for better treatment.
“It makes you realize how blessed you are when you see your children healthy,” Bryant said.
And while Bryant may be hundreds of miles away, Anita said she can still feel the beat of his giving heart.
“There is no way for me to repay his generosity. I wish that I could,” she said.
The L.C. Byrd graduate learned to think of others after emerging from a dark place awash in alcohol and from his late father who never looked down upon anyone.
“I wanted to make him proud and kind of carry on what he was doing,” he said.
Bryant is passing what he holds dear on to his next generation.
“Seeing how he does things definitely has changed my outlook on things,” said Bryant’s son, Stephen. “Not only have I had my dad my whole life, but I have so many things I can look up to that I will remember for 50 years now.”
It’s better to give than receive is a lyric Steve lives by daily. In the eyes of others he is their guitar hero.
“My goal is to have more and more people look at those that are less fortunate,” Bryant explained. “Don’t judge. Give them a hand up.”
Greg McQuade and CBS 6 News are featuring local heroes in a weekly “Heroes Among Us” segment. Watch Greg’s reports Thursdays on CBS News at 6 or here on WTVR.com. If you would like to nominate someone to be featured on “Heroes Among Us,” click here to email heroes@wtvr.com.
