A group of woodworkers in Vernon is donating some of its work in the name of charity.
Daniel Kilchenmann and his team of three trained timber framers at European Timberframe have decided to support the community by auctioning off one of their hand-built gazebos.
“We decided to give back to the people,” said Kilchenmann.
“We wanted to make someone happy.”
They gazebo is on display in front of Fishers Hardware on Vernon’s Coldstream Avenue.
The gazebo is currently up for auction at timberframecorp.com. Bidding carries on until 10 p.m. April 30.
Half of the proceeds from the gazebo sale will go to a charity hand-picked by the buyer and the other half will go to a charity selected by European Timberframe.
“We haven’t picked a charity just yet. We will hopefully decide on one soon,” said Kilchenmann.
“We will keep it local, like a food bank or shelter.”
Kilchenmann came over from Bern, Switzerland in 2006.
He worked for a different timber frame company during his first two years in Vernon and in 2008, he opened up European Timberframe as his own business. He has been a timber framer for 18 years.
“We do everything ourselves. We design the project, cut the wood and assemble it on sight for the customer,” said Kilchenmann.
“They only take a few days to make.”
This will be the second time the company has given away a gazebo for charity.
One was raffled off at the Canadian Home Builders Association home show in Kelowna last year and it currently resides at Arion Therapeutic Farm.
Kilchenmann plans on giving one gazebo away per year as long as business is doing well.
European Timberframe builds more than just gazebos. The company also constructs entrances, posts and beams for houses, roof systems, accents, pergolas and stairs.
