THE Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen commenced its second “gingerbread house built with love” charity initiative last Friday to collect donations for disabled children at a local welfare center.

Part of the hotel’s “Community Footprints” program, the event combines fundraising with traditional Christmas celebrations. From now until Dec. 30, hotel guests and community members can purchase gingerbread bricks — the price of each brick starts at 108 yuan, which can be decorated with frosting and candy by hand, or by a hotel pastry chef according to participants’ creative vision. The bricks will collectively be assembled into a life-sized gingerbread house in the hotel lobby as a centerpiece of the hotel’s Christmas decorations.

On Dec. 31, proceeds from the gingerbread brick sales will be donated to the Shenzhen Min’ai Disabled Children’s Welfare Center.

With its “Community Footprints” program, The Ritz-Carlton has a legacy of extraordinary service that extends beyond the care and comfort offered to its guests and to surrounding communities. (Tang Li)