JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
An event that benefits the families of deployed service members will again bring the joy of the holiday season to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
The Randolph Community Spouses' JBSA-Randolph 2013 Holiday Tour of Homes, which allows participants to tour festively decorated historic homes, is set for noon-3 p.m. and 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 2.
"The proceeds from the Tour of Homes go to the Warrior Family Fund, which helps fund different groups and programs that support the local families of our deployed service members throughout the year," Kristine Goodfellow, event spokeswoman, said. "Last year, the tour made $3,974.05."
The single-family homes on the tour were built in the 1930s for company and field grade officers and are included on the National Register of Historic Places, Goodfellow said.
"Nine primary designs were used, but varied entrances, reversed floor plans and different design elements make each house unique," she said. "All of the houses were constructed of hollow-core clay brick walls with stucco exteriors. Roofs were made with five-color clay tiles. Entrances and window surrounds boast ceramic Spanish-style tiles. Hardwood floors, wrought-iron stair railings, fireplaces and steel casement windows keep with the southwestern and Spanish influence of the architectural décor."
Goodfellow said occupants of the homes on the tour graciously volunteered to open their houses for the night of the event.
"In the fall, the Randolph Community Spouses put out a request to find people who want to help with a good cause and who love to decorate for the holidays," she said. "Anyone living at JBSA-Randolph can participate, regardless of rank, type of home or location."
Goodfellow said most of the homes on this year's tour are different from last year.
"The Randolph Community Spouses try to change the majority of the homes every year," she said. "Doing so makes for new and interesting things to see. People who take the tour can get decorating ideas from many different styles, personalities, themes and budgets."
Tickets for the tour, payable by check, are available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday at the Hunt Housing Office, building 133, and tickets payable by check or cash can be obtained 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday at JBSA-Randolph's Information, Tickets and Tours. On the day of the event, tickets are available at the front of the Taj Mahal. Suggested "early bird" donations are $15, while suggested donations on the day of the tour are $20.
Donations to last year's tour were more than double the amount generated by the 2011 tour.
"The tour was successful last year due to its high participation rate," Goodfellow said. "People came together as a community to support our cause by making a donation, helping sell tickets, donating cookies, baking treats or opening their homes."
For more information, contact Goodfellow at Ladyburgkg@yahoo.com or 325-733-4727, or Cindy Gifford at cagifford4@gmail.com or 334-0304.