Residents light up their homes for an inclusive holiday celebration

Two residential homes in Waltham, both operated by the Guild for Human Services, have earned high scores in the nonprofit’s annual holiday house-decorating contest. 

The Concord-based nonprofit provides services for youth and adults with specialized needs, including autism; behavioral challenges; and psychiatric, physical and medical disabilities. It operates 15 adult residential homes in eastern Massachusetts, including the two in Waltham.

The contest started during the COVID lockdown as an inclusive holiday celebration to get adult residents engaged, outside and connected with friends from other Guild residences. It is now an annual tradition that includes residents and their friends, neighbors and other community members. Adult residents are invited to create and help install decorations on their home’s exterior in a friendly competition with other Guild residents.

“Our adult residents have helped grow what we thought would be a one-off holiday house decorating contest during the pandemic into a beloved yearly tradition,” said Maureen A. Costello-Shea, chief program office at the Guild for Human Services. 

“It is a true testament to the work we are doing here at the Guild to ensure that all our residents are engaged in not only their residential community, but the broader community they reside in. From this contest, residents have been able to engage with neighbors, bring their families to participate, and take pride in the decorations they’ve created.”

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