This was the thirteenth year for the Christmas Open House at Dickey Bee Honey in Innisfil, but it was the sweetest one yet, for the community.
This year, owners Sandie and Peter Dickey partnered with the Rotary Club of Innisfil, to turn the annual event into a fundraiser and food drive for the Innisfil Food Bank.
The open house has always offered visitors a chance to tour the Honey House, and learn about bee-keeping and honey production. There have always been samples of baked treats sweetened with honey, hot apple cider, an opportunity to check out the mini-museum, and to purchase gift baskets of Dickey Bee Honey and honey products.
And Santa has always dropped in, to greet the children and hand out candy canes.
But this year, the Rotary Club of Innisfil brought its Candyland Express train, and visitors to the open house were encouraged to bring a donation of non-perishable food or cash for the food bank. The food bank, located at Innisfil Community Church, is getting ready to provide Christmas hampers to its clients who are struggling at this time of year.
There was a complementary barbecue, and both Pastor Howard Courtney of the food bank and members of the Rotary Club were on hand, to thank everyone for coming out and donating to the cause.
The open house has become an Innisfil tradition. “People keep coming back year after year,” said Peter Dickey, fourth generation bee-keeper – some of them coming from as far away as Oro-Medonte and Aurora, to Bee Merry.
There were some surprises. MP for Barrie-Innisfil John Brassard came back from Ottawa and the opening of the 43rd Parliament to drop in, and support the food drive.
And Santa had a surprise, thanks to young fan Andrew, who brought him a gift of a snow globe.
“Last week he said, ‘Santa brings everyone gifts. Nobody ever brings Santa a gift’,” explained Dad. “It was all his idea.”
For more information on Dickey Bee Honey and the Christmas Open House, click here.
