Killarney's Roots of Early Learning Daycare received $20,000 from the Province to help with building upgrades, a helpful boost to their maintenance bills!

"The $20,000 will help us with our aging structure," shares Director, Susan Nafziger.  "We'll be spending the money on the things that need maintenance.  It's absolutely essential for existing buildings or old buildings to be able to replace windows and do upkeep and things like that, which is really not in the budget."

The announcement was made last week that 34 childcare facilities across the province would receive funding from the Manitoba government through the Child Care Sustainability Trust which provided one-time grant funding to improve overall capacity, conduct repairs or improve programming supports to licenced child-care centres through one-time grant funding for projects including:

  • building repair and maintenance projects to keep child-care centres healthy and safe;
  • innovative program enhancements to improve inclusivity and accessibility to indoor or outdoor spaces;
  • wellness programs and tools to support and promote positive mental health in children and among staff; and
  • professional development training to improve management skills, cultural competency or specialized training for children with special needs.

What else is happening at the Roots of Early Learning in Killarney? Another fundraiser!

In December we put the call out that the Killarney School daycare and the site on Broadway Avenue needed a new Christmas tree.  Well, Killarney residents stepped up to the plate with 3 trees being delivered to their door!

"We had 3 Christmas trees donated which meant all of our daycare programs got a new Christmas tree: our infant program, our preschool and our school-age programs," shares Nafziger. "It was amazing, the response we got from the community!"

On May 11th, they will be hosting a Mother's Day silent auction, at the United Church in Killarney.  "The church is going to be having their Mother's Day Tea and then we'll be having our silent auction in the foyer," she explains. "So, parents can come in and bid on their children's or any of the other beautiful artwork that will be displayed."

To help prepare for the art 'auction' Nafziger says they're accepting donations of picture frames, new or gently used, and all sizes, with or without glass. "Glass isn't necessary as some of our art pieces are 3D so we don't necessarily need the glass in the frames."

"The children love looking at their art all framed up for the auction, so picture frames are needed now.  Also, art supplies would be great.!"

She adds many are spring cleaning and if there are items that folks don't know what to do with, think of your local daycare facility.  Also, once the garage sales are in full swing and folks have left over items, she again reminds us that daycares will gladly accept these items.

"Yes, we love all of that stuff, and if it's something that we can't use then we'll just donate it on your behalf!"

Items can be dropped off at the front or back door at the Roots of Early Learning 305 Broadway Avenue, Killarney.

Roots of Early Learning currently cares for 4 infants, 16 preschoolers, 15 school-agers and 30-35 nursery school children between the Broadway Ave location and the program at Killarney School.