A respite cabin the Bergsma family built in a woodlot on their
farm in has received $25,000 in grant funding to support mental wellness
programming.
The cabin is for supporting area farmers and first responders
dealing with mental stresses.
Three Oaks Cabin
was announced on Tuesday as this year's Growing Homes with BASF
Agricultural Solutions Ontario winner.
"We're
thrilled with the generosity and also the outcome of course," said Three
Oaks Cabin board chair Diane Bergsma. "But we're just very grateful
to BASF for so generously investing in the rural communities across our
country."
Bergsma said
while she's pleased with the community outpouring for Three Oaks Cabin, she's
also encouraged by the growing support for farmers and first responders.
"I think
it's great the way people are recognizing and willing to take part in bringing
about change and more support for these people who give us so much," she told
CKNX News.
The log cabin 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.
Bergsma said the
funding will directly support mental wellness programming but the board
still has to discuss how so exactly.
