Three Oaks Cabin, an ag and first responder-based mental health respite, is vying for BASF’s Growing Home’s $25,000 Ontario grant.
A local fireman farmer nominated the program after BASF opened the annual contest up to Ontario in addition to Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Why it matters: There has been a lack of a rural respite site for mental health for the agriculture and first responder community and Three Oaks Cabin helps fill that need.
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“We were among 600 nominees and made it down to the shortlist of three,” said Diane Bergsma, co-founder of Three Oaks Cabin. “From here … it’s who brings the most votes from the community in support of them.”
If Three Oaks Cabin wins, the funding would enhance the mental health programming and follow-up services and create an accessible, year-round trail through the 50-acre woodlot for nature therapy.
Bergsma said clients receive therapy for free, but the charity continually fundraises to allocate funds to cover the cost and ensure it has longevity as a long-term investment in the community, not a one- or two-year project.
Three Oaks Cabin is neck-and-neck with Highgate District Agricultural Society, with Norfolk Little People’s Daycare trailing ever so slightly behind.
Online voting allows each person to vote for one organization in each province. It closes on April 15, with winners announced on April 30th.
Regardless of who wins, Bergsma said BASF is investing money into great causes, but obviously, she hopes Three Oaks Cabin holds on to its lead in the polls when voting closes.
“They can go on our social media (@ThreeOaksCabin on X, formerly Twitter, or @3OaksCabin on Instagram). That’s probably the easiest way to BASF Growing Home,” saidd Bergsma. The voting is right there, but there are lots of links on our social media.”
