MESA, AZ — In one Mesa neighborhood, holiday magic is baked from the heart.
For the past three years, mother-daughter duo Janie Schmolke and Judy Hall have spent a month crafting more than a hundred intricate gingerbread houses, each one a sugary work of art and a tribute to the man who inspired it all.
After losing their husband and father, who was a beloved community Santa for decades, the two decided to give back in his honor.
Their annual Christmas Gingerbread Village now draws crowds, raises donations, and fills hearts with all proceeds helping build a children’s library at the hospice that once cared so deeply for their family.
ABC15's Cameron Polom shares this heartwarming story in the video player above.
See more from Uplifting Arizona:
Tempe initiative aimed at helping boys of color with literacy is expanding
Community appreciation reignites passion for Chandler burrito shop owner
Neurodivergent students in Arizona build full-scale replica of world's first computer
Maryvale teacher talks importance, success of 'Camp CAT,' helping students realize potential
Mesa seniors turn plastic bags into lifesaving mats for unhoused community
