Who Knew Building Affordable Housing Could Be So Sweet? Habitat GTA Launches Annual Gingerbread Build Campaign

Gingerbread Build event set for December 3 & 4, 2016

TORONTO, Nov. 3, 2016 /CNW/ - Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is pleased to announce the launch of its 14^th annual holiday Gingerbread Build campaign to raise funds for families in need of safe, decent and affordable housing this holiday season.

Habitat for Humanity GTA is now taking pre-orders for its popular gourmet gingerbread house kits.  Each delicious kit contains an assembled or unassembled gingerbread house, cookies, and a toolbox full of candy. Kits are $50 each and all proceeds from the sale of the kits go to support home building at Habitat for Humanity GTA.

"Building a gingerbread house has become a holiday tradition for thousands of families in the GTA," said Ene Underwood, CEO Habitat for Humanity GTA. "The Habitat for Humanity Gingerbread Build is a fun and heart-warming way for families, friends or colleagues to celebrate the holidays together while knowing that they're also helping working, low-income families in the GTA to realize their dream of an affordable 'Habitat sweet home'."

There are many ways to participate. Pre-order and purchase a gourmet gingerbread house kit ($50 ea.) from Habitat GTA (at: www.gingerbreadbuild.com) to make with family and friends at home, at the office with colleagues or donate it as a gift for a family living in one of the many homeless shelters in the GTA to bring them a little holiday cheer this season.

Families can also kick off the holiday season by signing up for a build shift at a Gingerbread Build event that Habitat for Humanity GTA is hosting on December 3 and 4, 2016 in the Rotunda at Toronto City Hall. Gingerbread Build event participants must pre-order and purchase their gourmet gingerbread kit(s) and book a build shift in advance of the event online at: http://www.gingerbreadbuild.com. Pre-order a kit between now and November 11, 2016 and receive an early bird discount of 10%. 

Baking and caking enthusiasts can also participate in a special How To Cake It Gingerbread Build event on November 26, 2016 at the YouTube Toronto Space at 230 Richmond Street East (at George Brown College).  Hosted by master cake artist and YouTube sensation Yolanda Gampp of How to Cake It, participants and their families will be able to transform their Habitat GTA gingerbread build kit into the gingerbread house of their dreams while meeting Yolanda live. Space is limited; for more information about this event, visit: www.howtocakeit.com

"We're delighted to be the presenting sponsor of this event," said Sherry MacDonald, president and CEO of Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation. "This initiative helps make families' dreams of better opportunities for their children come true.  This is aligned with our own mission of helping families make post-secondary education possible by helping them take advantage of programs like the Canada Learning Bond."

Habitat for Humanity GTA is grateful for the generous support of the following Gingerbread Build campaign sponsors: Canadian Sponsorship Trust Foundation (Presenting Sponsor) and DoorDash (Delivery Sponsor), who will deliver purchased gingerbread houses to your door. Please check the website for delivery zones.

About Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area (GTA):

Habitat for Humanity GTA is a non-profit housing organization working with communities to build homes with local families in need of affordable housing.  By offering zero down payment, no-interest mortgages capped at 30 percent of a family's income, Habitat for Humanity GTA offers families a hand up, empowering them to achieve stability and self-reliance through affordable homeownership, so that they can build a better life for themselves and their children. With the support of donors and volunteers, we build homes along with partner families in Brampton, Caledon, Toronto, and York Region, serving two-thirds of the GTA. Since 1988, Habitat GTA has built more than 300 homes in partnership with families. Habitat GTA is one of more than 1,400 Habitat for Humanity affiliates worldwide sharing a common vision and purpose.

To learn more, follow us on Twitter @HabitatGTA, Facebook Habitat for Humanity GTA or visit www.habitatgta.ca

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity GTA

Carol Davies, Senior Director, Marketing & Communications, Habitat for Humanity GTA, Office: 416-755-7353 ex: 259, [email protected]; Karen Lorenowicz, Communications & Public Relations Officer, Habitat for Humanity GTA, Office: 416-245-2475, [email protected]