Ponpon gives back

Local daycare helps mourning Gracefield family 

 

Laurent Robillard-Cardinal

Children at an Aylmer daycare have picked up their crayons, scissors and glue to help a Gracefield family mourning the loss of two children who perished during a February 27 house fire. “All of us here at the daycare try to participate in a small initiative that we take pride in called PonPon gives back. We try to help in our community when the call is needed; this is one that hits close to home,” said Kenny Joyce, daycare director and owner.

 

To assist the family, the Ponpon Daycare at 117 Front Street is hosting a silent art auction in late March with pieces completed in the daycare’s five classrooms and by local artists. The money would go to the Gracefield 

family to help them recover and rebuild.

 

One piece the daycare is working on now is a painted Adirondack chair donated by a local artisan. “We also have canvases coming from other classrooms,” added Joyce. “One of the educators is a Native artist and she is contributing.”

If artisits want to donate a piece of their work, they can contact 819 684-6222. Ponpon will be hosting the silent auction for 4 days, March 30, 31, April 1 and 2. “I have spoken with Jayne Courtney (the grandmother of the kids who passed away), and she is very touched by this effort and everyone's generosity,” Joyce told The Bulletin.