A local women’s organization has come up with a sweet way to help raise funds for a community service agency.
The Elizabethton Business & Professional Women’s Organization is sponsoring a Gingerbread House Decorating Contest as part of a family fun event being held on Nov. 20 from 1-5 p.m. in West Side Elementary School’s gym. In addition to the contest, the event will feature a Sweet Shoppe and a silent auction of items donated by local businesses.
Proceeds from the event will go to benefit the TLC Community Center which provides a variety of services for families, pregnant women, and children in the community.
This is the first year the Elizabethton Business & Professional Women’s Organization has decided to host a fundraiser event such as this. The decision to donate the proceeds to the TLC Community Center was an easy one to make according to event coordinator Kristi DeMoss. Angie Odom, the founder of the TLC Community Center, recently spoke to the Women’s Organization and many of the members know Odom personally from the community, DeMoss said.
“We just wanted to help and to get the community involved with her organization,” DeMoss said, citing how many children and families are served by the TLC Center’s food program.
The Gingerbread House Decorating Contest will be broken down into seven different categories as follows:
• Children Ages 4-6 — Gingerbread house/structure can be purchased. Adult can assist with assembly and construction of gingerbread house along with mixing any necessary icings/etc. All decorations are to be applied by the child participant.
• Children Ages 7-10 — Gingerbread house/structure can be purchased. Adult can assist with assembly and construction of gingerbread house along with mixing any necessary icings/etc. All decorations are to be applied by the child participant.
• Youth Ages 11-13 — Gingerbread house/structure can be purchased. No adult assistance can be provided. All assembly, decorating, and icings must be completed by the youth participant.
• Teen Ages 14-17 — Gingerbread house/structure can be purchased or made from scratch. No adult assistance can be provided. All assembly, decorating, and icings must be completed by the teen participant. Additional points will be given to participants who mix and bake the gingerbread pieces used for construction.
• Adult Novice — Gingerbread house/structure can be purchased or made from scratch. Additional points will be given to participants who mix and bake the gingerbread pieces used for construction. Adult Novice division is for those participants who are hobbyists.
• Adult Advanced — Gingerbread house/structure must be made from scratch and baked by participant. Adult Advanced is for those participants with culinary and/or extensive decorating experience. This would include individuals who decorate as a business.
• Adult Group – Gingerbread house/structure can be purchased or made from scratch. Additional points will be given to participants who mix and bake the gingerbread pieces used for construction. The Adult Group division is for houses created by two or more participants.
The deadline to apply for the contest is Nov. 16. The entry fee for children, youth and teen divisions is $5 and the entry fee for adult divisions is $10. The contest entry form as well as a complete listing of official rules can be picked up at the Elizabethton/Carter Chamber of Commerce and either location of Security Federal Bank in Elizabethton. Forms and rules are also available online at the Chamber of Commerce website www.elizabethtonchamber.com and through the Elizabethton Business & Professional Women’s Organization Facebook page.
For more information, contact Kristi DeMoss at 423-543-4333 or e-mail Robin McKamey at robin.mckamey@ecschools.net.