A quiet cabin where farmers and first responders can seek relief from daily stressors will welcome its first guests in May, but a vote could help secure funding for future mental health services.
Three Oaks Cabin, which is located at 6522 Bilton Line in Florence, was built by the Bergsma family in memory of their son Dalles, a farmer and member of the Dawn Euphemia Fire Department, who died by suicide in 2020.
His mother, Diane Bergsma, said construction is complete and they're very excited to open it to the community.
"All of the booking is done on our website threeoakscabin.com," she said. "It will work like an Airbnb type of booking. Guests can pick their own time slots and dates and book the cabin that way."
The three bedroom log home was built in the family's woodlot.
"People struggling from those communities can find some time for reprieve and rest and also have access to mental health therapy from therapists who are familiar with the triumphs and the pitfalls of both those professions," she said. "So, we're hoping that we provide respite so that we prevent a crisis."
Bergsma said the goal is to always offer the cabin at no cost.
"We're hoping to take away that hurdle, that there's no prestige hurdle between someone needing help and receiving help. The therapy will also be a service provided for free," Bergsma said.
The cabin has been named as a finalist for an Ontario grant from BASF Agricultural Solutions.
Bergsma is hoping the community can help them secure the grant by casting a vote for Three Oaks Cabin online by midnight on Monday.
"We were very excited and honoured to be nominated for a $25,000 grant," Bergsma said. "It's down to the last three nominees, but from here on in it is up to voters to vote for their favourite charity to decide who the final recipient of the $25,000 will be."
Votes can be cast at agro.basf.ca and a winner will be announced April 30.
"We are hoping that many people in our community will vote for Three Oaks. While there are three great charities vying for the money, we do hope that it will benefit our agricultural and first responder communities," she said. "In a sense it affects everyone, because everyone is looking to first responders to provide safety for their communities and for farmers to provide food for their family tables."
Registration is also open for the second annual Hard Miles Run and Walk, hosted by Three Oaks Cabin, to be held on June 15.
The event in Mitchell's Bay Park will raise funds to support respite and mental health resources at the cabin.
A Shifting Gears Tractor Parade will also roll through Dawn Euphemia in support of the cabin on August 17.