BUTLER TWP — The residents of Lowrie Place, their loved ones and staff members sang along to Christmas carols and enjoyed appetizers and the holiday spirit Wednesday evening, Dec. 6, but they all knew the evening belied a higher purpose.

Carol Warner, director of residential programs at Lowrie Place on Evans City Road, explained that all residents were invited to decorate their doors in a holiday theme, and votes collected would reveal the top three most festive doors.

Each vote cost $10, with all proceeds benefiting Guitars for Vets, which is a nonprofit that puts guitars in the hands of veterans struggling with PTSD, anxiety or depression.

The organization also pays for 14 guitar lessons for veterans who receive an instrument.

On Wednesday night, Warner announced that the door decoration project raised $840, more than enough to supply four local veterans with guitars and lessons.

The winning door, by a landslide, was decorated like a reindeer stable by Debbie Morrow, daughter of residents Don and Mary Bachura.

The couple, who have been married 57 years, won a gift bag containing Santa Claus-related items, like ornaments and a snow globe. Don Bachura said he and his wife helped with the decoration as well, but their daughter was the main engineer.

“She saw it on Pinterest,” he said.

The Bachuras were more thrilled at the money raised for Guitars for Veterans than their win Wednesday evening.

“It feels good to help veterans,” Don said.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Mary said of the program to benefit Guitars for Vets.

Warner told those in attendance on Wednesday evening that her goal was to raise enough for two local veterans to receive guitars and lessons.

“We surpassed that,” she said, causing applause to break out among residents and staff alike.

Karen Dunn, who is both the Butler and regional chapter coordinator for Guitars for Vets, was thrilled and grateful at the donation from Lowrie Place.

She especially appreciates that the residents were involved in raising the money.

“It’s a really nice for them to feel like they are part of the community,” Dunn said. “I hope the veterans who get guitars will come back and play here.”

She explained that for veterans who suffer from PTSD, anxiety disorders or depression, picking up a guitar and practicing their lesson or just noodling around on the instrument can be calming and give them a sense of accomplishment.

“When they’re playing the chords, they might forget their problems,” Dunn said. “A different part of the brain kicks in.”

She said guitar lessons are especially therapeutic for disabled veterans.

“It can give them joy,” Dunn said, “and not by adding another pill.”

Many times, veterans will complain that learning how to play guitar is too hard, but they get the tough love treatment from the effervescent Dunn.

“I tell them ‘If it were easy, everyone would do it,’” she said.

Dunn said 68 veterans have received guitars in her multistate Guitars for Vets region since its inception in 2018, including 24 just this year.

“If they had a bad day, they can pick up the guitar,” she said.

Dunn, who is also a nurse in the Butler V.A. Healthcare System, said some veterans contact her, but many are referred by various veteran organizations.

The guitars given to the veterans in the 136 Guitars for Vets chapters nationwide come from the group’s headquarters in Brookville, Wisc.

Some are donated to Dunn by locals who came to be in possession of a guitar but do not play.

Dunn, who does not play an instrument, takes donated guitars to Josh May of May’s Music in Butler.

There, May refurbishes the instruments so the veterans who receive them can take lessons and be proud of their guitar.

“He’s been instrumental — pun intended,” Dunn said. “His dad was a veteran who helped the community, and we have his dad’s guitar as a practice guitar.”

To learn more about the local chapter of Guitars for Vets or to donate, https://guitars4vets.org/ email pa.butler@guitarsforvets.org.