By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – Forest Oaks Elementary School students didn’t have to brave crowds of people at shopping malls and stores to find Christmas presents for their families.

All they had to do was walk down the hallway at their school.

During the week of Dec. 7-11, students in kindergarten through fifth grade at FOES were able to peruse and purchase items for their parents, siblings and themselves in “Gingerbread Lane,” which is run by the school’s PTO.

“We just do this for fun,” PTO board member Emi Burton said. “This is a new tradition for us. This is just an opportunity for kids to shop.”

Burton said this marks the second year Gingerbread Lane has been offered at FOES.

Proceeds from the 2015 Gingerbread Lane will go toward technology (specifically mobile Chromebook classrooms) and playground safety improvements, Burton said.

“We have a committee that kind of organizes and plans what our merchandise will be,” she said. “It’s gone like hot cakes.”

Volunteers in Gingerbread Lane also offer to wrap items the children buy.

Burton said some children are so eager after they purchase their gift items that they give them to their family members in the car line at school the same day.

“They’re so excited they’re able to do something for their parents,” Burton said. “It’s a one-stop shop.”

Burton said the shop runs smoothly thanks to parent volunteers.

“We had an overwhelming number of parent volunteers this week,” Burton said. “If it weren’t for our parent volunteers, we would not be able to do this.”