Nate Karr’s Guitars for Kids gift guitars for the holiday season

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- On Saturday, Nov. 29, Lanham Music hosted the 3rd Nate Karr's Guitars for Kids Giveaway.

Children gathered around local Jay Kerner to receive a free guitar. The giveaway got it's name form Kerner's late friend.

“My late friend Nate Karr and I had a band, and we gave away some guitars the Christmas before he passed away. We didn't know he was going to pass away, but we had such a good time doing it...And then when we lost him, we just continued to do it," said Kerner.

Each child who entered the giveaway was given a chance to pick one guitar of their choice after Kerner selected their name from a box. The event is something that Kerner deeply cherishes.

 “You can be involved with a lot of different charity activities. You can donate to a lot of things. You can be on boards, you can do a lot of things with a charitable attitude, but handing a kid a guitar that really wants a guitar, that's more fun than about anything I've been involved with," said Kerner.

Kerner partnered with Lanham to host the event, and when word spread around, donations came in.

 “I've donated a few of them that we've found over the summer, but the vast majority of them have just come from generous people that know about the project and have been willing to donate," said Kerner.

The giveaway was an opportunity for newcomers Naomi and Elijah Mobile, who finally got their hands on their very first guitar. The two siblings plan to learn the instrument together and are eager to get started.

 "We're going to work together. I've been wanting to learn for a while, so I'm really happy I had this chance," said Naomi Mobile.

After giving away nine guitars on Saturday, Kerner says they have been successful in giving away 106 guitars since they started, and with the help of Lanham Music, they have no plans to stop.