Providing a merry Christmas for a local veteran this year is as easy as plucking an ornament from a Christmas tree, thanks to a local woman who cares for veterans all year ‘round.

Mary Chitwood, founder and executive director of Robin’s Home, the residence in Butler for female veterans and their children, has organized an Adopt A Veteran program to provide a happy holiday to those in our county who have served and who might not otherwise have the best Christmas.

Chitwood said in the Adopt A Veteran program, shoppers can choose an oversize paper ornament from Christmas trees that have been set up at Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market in Saxonburg, Vintage Coffeehouse on Main Street in Butler, and Pennie’s Bake Shop & Espresso Bar at the intersection of New Castle Road and North Sixth Avenue in Butler.

Each ornament contains the wish list of a veteran in need, their initials, a number, and instructions on exactly how to carry out the “adoption” of a veteran.

The shopper buys the items on the list and wraps them, then labels each gift with the ornament number and veteran’s initials.

The shopper, having completed their altruistic task, then takes the cheerfully wrapped, labeled boxes and packages to the HEART Resource Center at 357 N. Main St., Butler by Dec. 11.

Chitwood said the gifts will be opened on Dec. 14 by the veterans at a Christmas party in their honor at Butler’s Grand Ballroom on Main Street.

The party will include a catered dinner provided at a discount by Tom’s Fairground Market in Franklin Township, music, dancing and general holiday merriment, Chitwood said.

In addition to unwrapping their gifts, each veterans will receive a stocking full of goodies and small gifts. The stockings are being filled by Slippery Rock Elementary School students and their families, and employees at T.J. Maxx and Iron Mountain.

“We told them small necessities like nail clippers and ChapStick, and candy and something fun,” Chitwood said of the stocking contents.

Those who would like to help, but are unable to fulfill a wish list can donate gift cards, which will be given to veterans at the party.

“Some veterans, they have a hard time asking for help,” Chitwood said. “At least we can give them a gift card and they can go purchase items they need.”

Chitwood said while she is coordinating the first Adopt A Veteran — which she will continue each year — the project has been an amazing and heartwarming community collaboration.

She said donations from Kennihan Plumbing & Heating of Middlesex Township, Bonus Accounting in Butler, NexTier Bank and SALT Marketing, discounts from Tom’s Fairground Market and the Grand Ballroom, and the three businesses that welcomed the Christmas trees made the project doable.

She hopes the fact that so many business owners and individuals unflinchingly embraced Adopt A Veteran is not lost on the veterans who attend the party.

“The support from the community is going to show them how much Butler County supports its veterans,” Chitwood said.

She also received help from Jen Dimit and her daughter, Nyomin, 7, who is the reigning National Little Miss Military Star.

Chitwood said once Jen Dimit knew about the Adopt A Veteran program, she offered to make all the paper ornaments for the three Christmas trees, with Nyomin’s help. Dimit also found volunteers to help at the Christmas party for the veterans.

“She called and said they wanted to do a project to help veterans, and I said “I want do this Adopt A Veteran thing for Christmas’ and she said “We’re in!’” Chitwood said.

As of Nov. 13, the program had 49 veterans, but Chitwood said all three Christmas trees will be replenished with additional ornaments up to Dec. 6.

She said officials from Butler V.A. Healthcare recently got wind of Adopt A Veteran and plan to submit a wish list from veterans in their programs.

Dimit said she and Nyomin held a collection last year to provide Christmas presents for the female veterans and their children staying at Robin’s Home.

She said Nyomin was distraught at the thought that some veterans and their kids might not get a presents at Christmastime.

“We wanted to step up and make sure even more veterans feel appreciated and loved this Christmas,” Jen Dimit said.

She and Nyomin set up the two veteran Christmas trees in Butler after the Veterans Day Parade, decorated them with a little garland and lighting, then hung the oversize ornaments on their artificial boughs.

“I wanted them to be big so people wouldn’t lose them,” Dimit said.

The mother and daughter typed up the items on each veteran’s wish list, printed it on card stock, cut it out in a circle, typed up the “Steps to Adopt a Veteran this Christmas,” cut that out and glued it to the back of the ornament.

Each ornament was festooned with patriotic star stickers and an American flag. The ornament hangers are made of the red-white-and-blue ribbon Nyomin has been using for the last three years to make the Ribbons For a Reason pins she hands out to veterans to show her appreciation for their service.

“I couldn’t have done this without Jen and Nyomin,” Chitwood said.

Nyomin and her mom spent time Wednesday replenishing ornaments at the three businesses where the trees were placed.

Doug Sprankle, owner of Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market in Saxonburg, said he has worked with Chitwood before on various programs involving Robin’s Home.

“We really like their message of taking care of our homeless veterans,” he said.

He said his customers are engaging with the Adopt A Veteran program, as many ornaments have been plucked from the Christmas tree near the store’s cash registers.

“Our customers are very patriotic and very community oriented,” Sprankle said. “It doesn’t surprise me, but at the same time, I’m always humbled by people’s willingness to give in this area.”

Michael Bestwick, co-owner at Pennie’s Bake Shop & Espresso Bar, said the shop’s policy is always to say “yes” when asked to be included in community events that help those in need.

“We are humbled and honored to be a part of this community, and we are just playing our part,” he said of the Adopt A Veteran tree in his lobby.

Angela Kupas, owner of Vintage Coffeehouse, said the Adopt A Veteran tree in her shop was devoid of ornaments less than 2 days after they were hung on Veterans Day.

She also has worked with Robin’s Home in the past.

“We’ve always been a big supporter of Robin’s Home, so we are always willing to help however we can,” Kupas said.

Kupas echoed the thoughts of all involved in the new Adopt A Veteran program.

“I just hope the veterans feel loved and blessed at Christmas,” she said.