This Christmas, gingerbread is not just for eating; it’s for helping children.

Thirty-one edible gingerbread houses will be sold through a silent auction to benefit orphans and vulnerable children served by Buckner Children and Family Services. The entries will be on display and available for bidding from Dec. 2 – Dec. 6 in the McFaddin-Ward House Visitor Center, 1906 Calder at Third Street in Beaumont, Texas.

Entries came from: Taylor Career and Technology Center, Silsbee High School Interior Design Class, Odom Academy Middle School, Lamar University Family & Consumer Sciences, Calder Woods Retirement Center, Lamar University graduates, and the Sanders family.

The contestants competed in the four categories of property/professional, school, open/general public, and college.

Cynthia Espinoza won first place for the division of property/professional with her entry: “A Weenie Dog Christmas” and received $250 in the name of Calder Woods to be donated to Buckner Children and Family Services and $150 for herself. Taylor Career and Technology Instructors won second for “Christmas Cottage Home.”

In the school division, Culinary Arts I & II Classes from Taylor Career and Technology Center won first place with their entry, “Winter at Home,” receiving $100 in prize money. Hillaire Soignet and Kara Szemborski from Silsbee High School’s Interior Design Class took second place earning $75 with their creation, “Canary Manor.” Honorable Mention was awarded to Stephen Young, James Meridith, and Carlee East of Odom Academy Middle School with “Santa Claus Lane”.

Additional ribbons were awarded in the school division because of the large number of entries. Below is a listing of all award winners.

3^rd Place: Dezera Morton & Susan Welborn of Silsbee High School “Hope House”

4^th Place: Christina Robertson, Shantasha Jones, Lakedria Bradley, Brittney Hickman, Britania Randolph of Silsbee High School “Evergreen House”

5^th Place: Kayleigh Washington & Adrianne Whitehead of Odom Academy “Christmas Cabin”

“Special Award” Silsbee High School: Kayla Burrows, Reagen Robinson, Alley Rose of Silsbee “Rainbow Castle”

“Special Award” Taylor Career and Technology Center: Cherlynn McDonald and Japera Coleman  “Winter Wonderland”

“Special Award” Odom Academy Middle School: (TIE)

Ann Nguyen, Elizabeth Tirawain, Manniah Harris “Gingerland”

Caleb D. Wright, Isaiah Wilkerson, James Reed “Big Colorful”

The general public was also invited to participate. First Place winner in the Open Division was Serafina DiVello receiving $150 for Are You in Good Hands?”

2nd Place: The Sanders Family “Sweet Real Estate” 

In the College Division, Rachel McGee of Nederland, Texas took first place and Best of Show for her Alice-in-Wonderland inspired “A Very Merry Un-Christmas to You.” Second-Place winner Sendi Gardner of West Orange, Texas with her “The End of the Lane” creation received approval marks as well. McGee earned $100 and Gardner took $75 as the top two finishers in the College Division.

The Honorable Mention winners from Lamar in the College Division were Louann Walker with “The Hunt is On,” Jessica Boulos with “The Wedding,” Kimberley Wade with “Christmas in the Sands, ” and Christina Pileggi with “Candy Land.”

The judges were Elaine Wikstrom, assistant editor at The Beaumont Enterprise; Michael McEachern, Renaissance Hospital CEO, and Ann Clary Old, who serves as Buckner Auxiliary President, along with her son, James Old. They rated the Gingerbread creations on degree of difficulty, work involved, artistic achievement, originality, and total appearance.

The rules for the no-entry-fee competition stated the houses had to be original designs and must be made of 100 percent edible food items, except for candy wrappers and the baseboard for the display. Wrappers may be left on the candy. 

The event was the result of a partnership among Charles Duit, of Calder Woods and Lamar University; Donda Foran Thomasson, communications coordinator at the McFaddin-Ward House, along with The Golden Triangle Chapter of the Texas Chefs Association, Lamar University Hospitality Program, Buckner Auxiliary, and Renaissance Hospital, sponsors of the event. Prize monies were sponsored by the Golden Triangle Chapter of the Texas Chefs Association, of which Chef Duit is the State President. The McFaddin-Ward House served as location host for the fourth year.

Laura May, administrator of Buckner in Beaumont, said she is very grateful for all of the participants and everyone who took part in putting together the competition.

“The gingerbread houses are beautiful, and are such a great reminder to everyone about what holidays are about—love, service and giving,” she said. “And we know that each of these displays required a lot of time and energy, so we are very blessed to have so many participants.”