Zelienople resident Valerie McMahon, 34, scoops sprinkles onto her star-shaped sugar cookie during C.A.R.E.S. of Western PA's Christmas cookie-decorating event recently.

MARS — Mars resident Napresa Nobles striped a candy cane-shaped sugar cookie in red icing and red and green sprinkles.

“It was awesome,” said Nobles, 37, about the time she had embellishing the holiday dessert.

Hints of vanilla frosting floated in the air and colorful candies fell onto the tops of sugar cookies as six members of C.A.R.E.S. of Western PA Inc. decorated cookies at its Christmas cookie-decorating event last week at its Mars campus at 225 Crowe Ave.

The organization, which provides person-centered services to people with developmental disabilities and behavioral health challenges, hosts four events yearly related to holidays that coincide with the time of year, said Bill Sparks, director of intellectual and developmental disabilities services.

This is the second year cookie decorating has been an activity, he said. Additionally, members played a game of snowman bowling and crafted a snowman with earmuffs from a flower pot.“They give folks an opportunity to get out of the house,” Sparks said about the activities.A total of 108 people are served at its locations in Cheswick, Chippewa, Hopewell and Mars, he said.An upcoming event for the organization is its fourth annual Holiday Show, which will be Wednesday at the Mars campus. The event has been different every year since the organization first offered services on Dec. 21, 2015, Sparks said.At the show, each campus will perform a holiday number, and the night ends with a collaborative performance.The holiday show gives members an opportunity to showcase their talents, said Jackie White, a team lead who has been with the organization four years.

When the Mars campus opened its doors, it served seven members, she recalled.Now, the site has grown to serve 23 people, which she said is exciting.Members are able to have fun in a relaxed, group setting at the special events compared to the ratio of one staff member to three members during its regular services, she said.This allows them to meet and bond with other adults because most members are over 21, she said.Events are designed to connect the organization's members with the local community as they become familiar and learn from each other, Sparks said.

WHAT: Fourth Annual Holiday Show hosted by C.A.R.E.S. of Western PA Inc.WHEN: 1 p.m. WednesdayWHERE: C.A.R.E.S. of Western PA Inc., 225 Crowe Ave., Mars

Jim Josapak paints a flower pot white for a craft that would become a snowman with earmuffs recently at the C.A.R.E.S. of Western Pa. event.

Jeremy Landon, 25, of Chippewa drops sprinkles carefully onto his sugar cookie at C.A.R.E.S. of Western PA's Christmas Cookie Decorating event at its Mars location.

Colorful designs were placed on Christmas sugar cookies at C.A.R.E.S. of Western PA's Christmas Cookie Decorating event at its Mars location last week.

Snowman bowling was one activity at C.A.R.E.S. of Western PA'sg event at its Mars location.