A Kilworth daycare centre devastated by fire is hoping people will open their hearts and wallets to help it stay afloat.
The Kilworth Children's Centre has launched a GoFundMe page in an effort to raise $50,000.
Fire tore through the non-profit organization's facility on Enterprise Dr. on February 7. No one was hurt but the blaze caused extensive damage.
Reconstruction is expected to take five to six months, forcing the centre to cancel its 2016 March break program and summer camps. The cancellation of those programs will cost an estimated $70,000 in lost revenue.
The centre's insurance policy covers the contents of the building and reconstruction costs but not any lost revenue.
"We need to raise these funds," says Emily Paulger, executive director of the centre. "The money raised through the online campaign will be used for keeping the centre open and afloat and the overall operation."
As of Friday, nearly $10,000 had been donated through the GoFundMe page.
"The overall community support has been overwhelming and amazing. Our main goal is to get our families back to the care they are use to receiving and their children back into the home of Kilworth Children's Centre."
In addition to the GoFundMe page, Paulger says the centre hopes to hold other fundraising initiatives over the coming months.
The 25-year-old centre provides daycare, before and after school programs, and summer camps to approximately 100 children in Middlesex Centre.
