help my katrina project?

[mopinko]

ok, i got a little bit my a bug about this. but i am stupid, and i need some help.
here's the deal. lots of musicians have lost their instruments. there are a couple of organizations collecting them and matching them up. if i had a ton of money, i would send some brand new instruments down there. but i don't. i do have some money, and some time, and the willingness to search for good used instruments that i can get repaired, (i have a good shop here, and i think i can get a little volunteer help, also.) and send down there. where i run into trouble, is that i don't know that much about it. i am not a musician.
i got hooked because i had a vintage king coronet that i got on ebay when my son was in the band. i sent it down there, and it just felt like the perfect thing for me to do. i don't worry too much if i can see it. there are a lot of pawn shops, etc, around here that i can haunt. but i am looking at some stuff on ebay. people sell vintage instruments, not knowing exactly what they need, etc. and they go very cheap.
so, what i want to know is, are there folks here that know a little more who would look at ebay listing that i point out, or that they find themselves, and let me know if they think i should buy them?
this seems like the only way for me to procure really quality instruments. if they turn out to be not so great, there is still a big need for student grade instruments. but those really good finds will really help.
so, can i get some expert help?

[mopinko]

1. today's kills.

so, i bought some stuff on e-bay today. wanna see?

sure someone will need some strings.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7389105811&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7388299770&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7389080100&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7389161706&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1
and the big score, although i think i will need to throw myself on the mercy of the repair guy on this one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7389227964&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

got another vintage sax in my sights.
i picked up a nice king trombone, in really good condition, and a vintage bundy coronet at a flea market. the bundy needed some work, but it was not too bad.
i have found a couple of organizations that can get these into good hands, but will try to find someone close to home to work with. i think i can negotiate some help with repairs if i am working with someone that is recognized.

did get a nicer clarinet for my kid, so i can give up her student vito, also.

[mopinko]

2. talked to the chicago musicians union today.

a couple of members have been working on this, and they are trying to get a truckload together. i hope i can get this stuff all collected and repaired in time to get on the truck.
so far i have- 2 trombones, 4 clarinets, 1 coronet, 1 trumpet, an alto sax, and 3 boxes of guitar strings. i am holding out hope that i can still get a beautiful sax that i almost got, but missed the reserve. bout out of money, here, but if i can get some help on the repairs, maybe i can chip for the truck. hopefully, i can shake a few things out of some friends, also.