Edible fundraiser benefits Bissell Centre

Welcome to Hogwarts, sweettoothed Harry Potter fans. You won’t find any trolls in the dungeon but you will find gingerbread and frosting, among other delights.

It’s all part of the Duchess Bake Shop’s way of supporting the Bissell Centre.

Back in August, co-owner Garner Beggs began this massive 1:100 scale replica build of the Hogwarts Castle from the Harry Potter series, which takes up just under 50 square feet of floor space.

“It’s made of gingerbread, sugar ... and sugar,” Beggs said with a laugh, standing in front of his creation.

Out of all the projects Beggs has created over the years this, by far, is the largest.

“This one really amped up the complexity for us,” Beggs said.

So how long does it take to make something this big and complex?

“A lot of hours — enough that I’ve listened to the entire Harry Potter audiobooks and many, many, many podcasts and different things, hundreds and hundreds of hours,” said Beggs.

This, of course, is part of the fundraiser for the Bissell Centre, which has a great need for fresh socks for the homeless and people in need.

“We’re encouraging people to come down with a pack of fresh socks and your name will be entered into a raffle,” Beggs said.

Duchess Bake Shop will be taking donations until Dec. 31. A name will then be drawn of a person who will get to smash the castle in the new year.

It’s what Beggs calls a demolition party.

“You can have your turn at Hogwarts with a baseball bat, or your implement of choice, so you and five friends can have a big demolition party,” Beggs said.

People may think the castle looks so amazing they won’t want to wreck it, Beggs said.

“If you have 50 square feet available in your living room to display it, knock yourself out (and take it home),” Beggs said, laughing.

This is the fourth year the Duchess Bake Shop has done a fundraiser for the Bissell Centre and Beggs is hoping to collect more socks than any year before.

To donate and get your name entered into the draw, head to the bake shop at 10718 124 St. with a pack of new socks.

LARRY WONG Duchess Bake Shop owners Garner Beggs and wife Kelsey Johnson have constructed a replica of Hogwarts Castle. Anyone dropping off socks in support of the Bissell Centre can enter a draw to win the castle.