Gingerbread raises dough for nonprofits

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. “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.” 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. “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.” 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.