It was all jolly and cheer at East on December 15 as families with a sweet tooth came to the third-annual Gingerbread Build in Cafeteria.

At the event, tables were adorned with candy, gumdrops, peppermints, chocolate and sprinkles. All donations and proceeds went to East’s Habitat for Humanity club.

“Our club is trying to provide the community with an opportunity to mess up our cafeteria… as they raise some awareness about the housing needs in the area,” said Habitat Adviser Ms. Nora Smaldore.

The club is trying to raise money for the spring break trip to North Carolina. The students go to an area that they aren’t familiar with to work with volunteers on sight and the Americorps workers. Smaldore says the homeowners that will get the houses usually come on sight so the students and volunteers can meet them. The East students learn how hard it is for others and how fortunate and lucky they are.

Vice President of the club, Matthew Borrelli (‘19) says, “I think everyone here has Christmas cheer and everybody is having a good time with their kids and families. It’s a really good event for the people in our community to get involved and help raise money for our cause.”

The Habitat club had a bake sale with hot chocolate and cookies to raise money as well. There were also winners distinguished for the quality of their gingerbread houses.
Borrelli and Smaldore both say that the event was very successful and that they would love to throw another Habitat for Humanity Gingerbread Build in the years to come.
The families and people who attended the event all were thrilled with the cookies they created.

“I think the event well. Everyone here is in a festive mood. It’s fun and entertaining to watch the [gingerbread] houses being built. I am glad I could be apart of it,” said Aditi Doiphode (‘20), the secretary of Habitat for Humanity.  
Also featured at the event,  was a stuffed animal drive to donate fluffy little creatures to kids in needs.

“We’re teaming up with a stuffed animal drive… to donate new and gently used toys to [families with children] who couldn’t afford gifts, so they could have something for the holidays” said Smaldore.