Sandalwood Court, an affordable housing complex acquired by Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre in 2018 is the location of a new Men’s Shed project. Desert Sun is hosting two information sessions before it opens at the end of April. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)
By Vanessa Broadbent
Osoyoos Times
A new initiative from Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre is moving forward, now that it’s secured necessary grant funding.
The Men’s Shed, a space for men from Oliver and Osoyoos to come together and work on projects, is opening at the end of April.
The concept originated in Australia and is now a worldwide organization, Desert Sun executive director Marieze Tarr said.
“When men downsize and move into condos, they often don’t have a place to pursue their hobbies anymore and they become quite bored and isolated.
“They found these men weren’t looking after themselves and didn’t know how to cook and they hardly ever went out. Then they become depressed, sick, and end up in the hospital.”
The Men’s Shed will operate at Sandalwood Court on Highway 97 in Oliver, an affordable housing complex acquired by Desert Sun in 2018.
There’s a building on the property that’s being converted into a shop that will be filled with tools, a kitchen and even a TV.
• Read more: Friendship and family forged over food at Desert Sun’s Community Kitchen
Programs will be offered at the shed as well, including Desert Sun’s cooking program and a computer tutor program.
The men will also take on community projects. So far, they’re planning to build “buddy benches” for Oliver Elementary School.
“They could put these benches around the school for the older and the younger kids to sit together so that there’s more of a sense of community,” Tarr said.
Desert Sun is also open for ideas for projects for the Men’s Shed to take on.
“There’s always going to be somebody who needs something fixed,” Tarr said. “We’re very open to ideas of things that the community might need, like schools or the towns if they’re looking for benches. We would love for them to approach the men’s shed.”
The program is going to be completely volunteer-driven and Desert Sun is looking to find a few men willing to be volunteer coordinators.
Memberships, likely priced at $20 for a year, will be available, and the funds will go back into the project to buy supplies.
Desert Sun is hosting two information sessions, one in Oliver at Sandalwood Court on April 3 from 10 to 11 a.m., and another at the Desert Sun office on Main Street in Osoyoos on April 10 from 10 to 11 a.m.
The Men’s Shed will officially open on April 29 and the plan is for it to run Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 or 3 p.m.
