They capitalized on gingerbread.<\/p>\n
Among the structures squaring off in a gingerbread house competition and fundraiser at Mendenhall Auto Center’s showrooms is a recreation of the Alaska Capitol made by Jensen Yorba Lott architects.<\/p>\n
“It was a lot of fun,” said Wayne Jensen, senior architect for Jensen Yorba Lott. “More importantly there’s 10 nonprofits in town that will receive hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.”<\/p>\n
Ten local businesses did their best to make attention-grabbing sweet structures currently on display for the first-year event, and the public is able to vote on the houses by placing donations in jars next to each display. Each entry in the contest benefits a local nonprofit.<\/p>\n
“It’s more than I ever could have imagined,” said Mark Troupin, general manager for Mendenhall Auto Center. “These guys knocked it over the fence. It’s just cool to walk through and see the energy that went into all of them. They’re all very different. I couldn’t begin to pick which one’s my favorite.”<\/p>\n
[How you can be a holiday do-gooder]<\/ins><\/a><\/p>\n Every dollar placed in donation jars near the gingerbread structures counts as a vote, and all of the money collected goes toward supporting the nonprofits affiliated with the displays.<\/p>\n Coeur Alaska’s display supports Family Promise, Elgee Rehfeld LLC supports St. Vincent de Paul, Jensen Yorba Lott supports Southeast Foodbank, AEL&P supports Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies (AWARE), Alaska Marine Lines supports Gastineau Humane Society, Pavitt Health & Fitness supports Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL), Western Auto Marine supports Hospice & Home Care of Juneau, Northrim Bank supports Big Brothers Big Sisters, GCI supports United Way of Southeast Alaska and Ron’s Apothecary supports Cancer Connection.<\/p>\n Breaking the Jell-O mold<\/strong><\/p>\n The 10 confection constructions include a depiction of the capitol, an impressively large pretzel rod cabin backed by a tree line, barges and all sorts of flora and fauna. Otters in repose clutch candy canes in one display. In another, a candy-coated whale exhales a Red Vine water spout.<\/p>\n The gingerbread scene made by Ron’s Apothecary employees features a light-up houseboat and twinkling lights under a blue gelatin body of water.<\/p>\n “That was combined group effort,” said Alicia Godkin, manager for Ron’s Apothecary. “It wasn’t a two-person project. It was all of us. Probably eight to 10 people.”<\/p>\n Godkin said everyone pitched in making enough blue Jell-O for the design, but the first batch fell prey to a dog, and a second round of Jell-O making was required.<\/p>\n A lot of thought, time and effort went into the project, Godkin said.<\/p>\n