News & Events >> Gingerbread Project - Houses Available!

Gingerbread Project - Houses Available!

Date: 12/17/2009
Time: 9:00 AM

Our Fifteenth Year!

Once again the Middle School students are offering you the opportunity to purchase their handmade gingerbread houses to benefit the Children’s Community School in Waterbury, CT. This year the sale of 200 houses is our goal, and each one sells for $25.00. We offer two kinds of houses: decorated or assembled, but undecorated. The undecorated houses come with enough candy and icing to decorate them at home. We will include candy, icing, cardboard round, and instructions so that any child (the young ones may need some help) will be able to decorate his or her own house. Please help us help others and order a house or two today. When you place your order, please be sure to specify decorated or undecorated.

Forms to order your Gingerbread Houses are the front desk.  Buy 4 and get one free!

December 1st: Assembly of houses by students and parent volunteers.

December 2nd: Decorating 

December 4th - 14th: Pickup at WMS

 History of the Gingerbread House Project

The Gingerbread House Project originated fourteen years ago when Sally Trench spoke to students in our school about her efforts to help children in war torn Bosnia. Daren Daniels, an elementary student at the time, heard Sally speak, was moved by her presentation, and spoke of it at home. His mother, Sandy, looked for ways to help Daren help. As a result of their efforts, our first Gingerbread House Project was born. We met a challenge presented by Sally Trench to raise $1400.00 to cover the cost of sending one truck full of medicines, food, and clothing into Bosnia. The second year Sally was no longer needed in Bosnia, so we looked for a local group that helps children, and we found The Children’s Community School in Waterbury. This school has existed for over thirty-five years, and it is committed to helping children and their families. They live Maria Montessori’s mandate that we look to the whole child and they provide meals, support and hope for the child and his or her family. They do anything they can to allow these children an opportunity to live up to their potential and claim the gifts they have to offer themselves and their world. If only there were more of these schools! It is a pleasure to be a part of their good work.

Daren graduated from WMS, and is currently a student at UConn Law School. Sandy continues her commitment to this very worthwhile project and comes every year to help us. Also, Kathy Weiser, whose daughter Katie graduated from WMS in 2005, returns each year to lead the baking team. We are so lucky to have them; they give us all this wonderful opportunity to help others and their commitment to this project is a gift.