Holiday Support for the Community
It is the mission of the Gingerbread House to ensure that, “Every child in Washington County will have the opportunity to experience the lasting, cherished memories of Christmas”. We achieve this mission by reaching out to individuals and families in Washington County who do not have adequate resources to meet their basic needs, or celebrate the holiday season.
Sponsoring groups, families and organizations take pride in filling their "adopted" family's basic needs, as well as providing special treats and gifts for individual family members. This seasonal program has been warmly embraced by the entire community and is quickly becoming a local holiday tradition.
County Served: Washington
Population Served: Washington County families in need
Program Availability: Registration begins in September, with distribution in December
Referral Requirements: Self or professional referral (documentation required)
Fee: None
Please note the 2022 Gingerbread House Signup Information listed on the "Events" page
Become a Gingerbread Volunteer!
The Gingerbread House Program does not exist without the dedication and support of volunteers! There are opportunities to volunteer in almost every aspect of the program.
Gingerbread House Ornament Creators
The Gingerbread House tradition is to offer homemade Gingerbread people ornaments as a thank you to our gracious sponsors. Volunteers are needed to help create the ornaments. Below is a link to a salt dough recipe - the common way we have made ornaments in the past, but use your own recipe if you'd like. Feel free to make as many and get as creative as you would like! Our goal is 250 ornaments by December 10th!
https://wholefully.com/make-salt-dough-ornaments/
Volunteer Sign Up Coming Soon!
Gingerbread House Virtual Sign Up Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to assist families in signing up for holiday support! Volunteers will meet at Healing Elements Day Spa conference room. Volunteers will utilize technology such as Google Forms and Google Hangouts to connect with participants to complete their program registration. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own laptop and/or mobile devices to utilize during the sign up process. In testing the procedure, staff have identified that a laptop + a phone or tablet is the ideal set up. Volunteers will verify participant eligibility, review wishlists to ensure they are complete, and assign a family number to each family. Volunteers will receive written instructions and a training video prior to their shift. Shifts begin 30 minutes before sign up starts to allow plenty of time for questions. Sign up occurs Wednesday from 5-7pm.
Volunteer Sign Up Coming Soon.
Gingerbread House In Person Sign Up Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to assist families in signing up for holiday support! Volunteers will meet at Youth and Family Project and spread out in stations across the first floor of the building to social distance. Volunteers will utilize technology such as Google Forms to complete program registration with participants. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own laptop and/or mobile devices to utilize during the sign up process. Volunteers will verify participant eligibility, review wishlists to ensure they are complete, and assign a family number to each family. Volunteers will receive written instructions and a training video prior to their shift. Shifts begin 30 minutes before sign up starts to allow plenty of time for questions. Sign up is from 10am-12pm.
Gift Runners
We are looking for volunteers to great donors and family participants, assist sponsors in unloading their vehicles, sorting and organizing gifts/donations. Volunteers will also be needed to greet families, track gifts coming and going, organize and sort items, locate gifts, and assist in taking items to their vehicles. Some heavy lifting may be required but rolling utility carts will be available to assist volunteers in bringing gifts to and from vehicles.
Volunteer Sign Up Coming Soon!
Santa Shoppers
We are looking for volunteers to sort and organize general donations, utilize family wish lists to gather items for unsponsored and waitlisted families. If wrapping materials are available, gifts may be wrapped or supplies provided with family gifts. Some light lifting may be required.
Volunteer Sign Up Coming Soon!
Sponsor a Family
The Gingerbread House Program could not exist without the generous support of our sponsors. Returning sponsors have become our cherished friends and new sponsors are always needed. Many of our sponsors choose to be matched directly to an individual or family in need, and shop for items on their Wish List that will provide joy and holiday cheer. Other sponsors prefer to show their support by making a monetary donation, or by purchasing new items to be used in “Santa’s Workshop.”
If you are interested in sponsoring a family, please complete the Sponsor Information Form 2023 and return to Christina at gingerbread@youthandfamilyproject.org.
Businesses are welcome to host gift and toy drives and/or sponsor families as well. For a list of most needed items, click HERE. If you are unsure how you would like to structure your drive, please reach out to Christina at gingerbread@youthandfamilyproject.org or call the Gingerbread House Sponsors' Line at 262-230-1150 to discuss options and ideas.
Gingerbread House Committee
Interested in getting more involved in the Gingerbread House Program? We would love your support year round to assist with planning, program coordination, sign up and volunteer management. For more information, email Emily Greene at gingerbread@youthandfamilyproject.org!
