While the holiday favorite event has been ongoing for 18 years in its current form, Glory Zamarelli and Lisa Bezon first started the tradition at home with their own children. As their children grew so did the festivities, first spreading to include their classmates at school, and eventually becoming the current central event which serves all the district’s elementary students at once rather than on a class-by-class basis. 

Preparations for Gingerbread day start around a month ahead of the big day each year and are completely donor funded. 

Anyone interested in supporting this annual tradition can make contributions to the Salem Community Foundation’s Gingerbread Day Fund.