TRAVERSE CITY — A group of retirees in Northern Michigan is finding connection, purpose and camaraderie through woodworking and community service at the Grand Traverse Men’s Shed.
The group, which meets every Tuesday and Thursday, gives retired men a place to gather for coffee, conversation and hands-on projects that benefit the community. Members say it has become a way to stay active and engaged after leaving the workforce.
“I was just looking for something to get involved with and some place to go to maybe interact with and be a part of the community,” said member Doug Haberland. “It was just a great bunch of guys doing a good community service, projects.”
The group takes on a variety of projects, from building camp chairs to creating pieces for the Old Town Playhouse. One project in particular, a “wind phone” for a local hospice house, carries personal meaning for member Bill Irvine, who lost his wife in 2018.
“It feels good to be retired, but also [to do] projects for the community,” Irvine said. “We laugh and joke together and have a good time building projects for the community.”
Even members without woodworking backgrounds say they’ve found ways to contribute. “I’m not a woodworker, but I’ve learned stuff,” Haberland said. “We do a lot of volunteer efforts and do good things for the rest of the community.”
The shed is stocked with equipment and tools, giving members the ability to take on nearly any project. Beyond the work, members say the real value is in the friendships they’ve built.
“Congeniality. I think our motto is working together shoulder to shoulder,” Haberland said. “Guys come here for a lot of different reasons, but they just find camaraderie.”