NEW PALTZ, N.Y. -- For the ninth year in a row, employees at the Mohonk Mountain House are coming up with festive ways to give back.

Mohonk Mountain House is a historic, family-founded resort that dates back to 1869. For nearly a decade, the employees have teamed up with the community to host a gingerbread house competition to help pay it forward to families dealing with food insecurities. This year, the initiative helped to generate a $30,000 donation for the Regional Food Bank, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting hunger and preventing food waste in northeastern New York.

Tom Smiley, CEO of Mohonk Mountain House, said this fundraiser would not be possible without community support. 

"We just found out that this means 120,000 meals can be served to members of our community," Smiley said. "It means a lot to me for us to be a part of that."

Together, the gingerbread contestants came up with creative ways to capture the attention of the judges and entice the public to visit Mohonk Mountain House. As a result, every attendee paid $15 to attend the gingerbread competition, which contributed to the Regional Food Bank. Spa reception manager Jessica Yess created a gingerbread house this year and said it feels great to give back this holiday season. 

"I felt as an employee, [my gingerbread house] reflects my love of Mohonk and the summer houses and being outside with nature," Yess said. "The amount that we raised is phenomenal, especially this time of year...it's incredible that people can contribute to help in that great sense."

Yess said she and other gingerbread contestants are looking forward to growing the monetary donation for the Regional Food Bank year after year.