An elderly Orillia couple has donated its workshop tools to ODAS Park amid downsizing into a condo.
Betsy Ramsay-Currie and Ted Currie have donated their mini workshop with hammers, ladders, drills and other much-needed equipment to the maintenance team at ODAS Park.
"They weren't sure what to do with their tools and equipment," explained ODAS Park director Gail Stover. "They asked if ODAS would be interested, and we jumped at the opportunity.
Stover says Currie is known in the community for building garden sheds for his friends.
"He used the tools for his carpentry hobbies," she said. "He was very happy to see them going to a home and a facility that truly needed them and will be using them forever."
Stover says the equipment donation is crucial for ODAS Park, especially as its buildings continue to age.
"Our buildings need constant upgrades and repairs," she said. "Before now, we didn't have equipment owned by ODAS to maintain the property."
After obtaining the Currie donation, ODAS Park has built a workshop in Betsy and Ted's name.
"They are community-minded people," Stover said. "I think it says a lot about them to give to an organization that needed this kind of donation."
Since the Currie's donated the tools, others have been following suit.
"We've had a few other retired folks who are downsizing donate items," Stover said. "It's certainly a wonderful thing."
Before the donations, ODAS Park maintenance staff and volunteers had to bring their tools from home to make repairs.
"Now we have some on-site tools," Stover said. "It's a work in progress and we are certainly organizing and adding items as they are donated."
If you have some old tools you could part with, ODAS Park is still looking to add to its collection. To contact general manager Erin Abbott, email [email protected] or call 705-325-0353.
