Community rallies to support five children in northern Ontario who lost both parents
It’s a heart-wrenching story of loss. Five children from Sudbury are living with their aunt in Webbwood after the death of their mother due to complications from pneumonia in early January.
The tragedy comes after the children lost their father to a heart attack in December 2020.
Anita Kennedy (L) and Don Kenny (R) both passed away leaving behind five children in Sudbury. (Amy Kennedy)
Two of the kids -- Skye Kenny, 15, and her sister Maddison, 13 -- both attended St. Charles College. Two of their teachers decided to create a Go Fund Me page.
The fund is intended to help their aunt, Amy Kennedy, with costs associated with taking in the two girls and their three siblings: six-year-old twins Wyatt and Chase, and Gage, age 11.
"We didn’t expect any of it and we’re just thankful that they decided to do that," Kennedy said.
"We had to get them new school shoes, backpacks and stuff for the kids. We’ve had to buy new beds, bedding. It’s helped out with transportation for the kids to go back and forth to school until we can get them on the bus."
With the addition of the five children, Kennedy now has nine children under her roof.
"It’s not that hard during summer (or) when it's March Break and Christmas. We have my spouse's four kids come down and stay with us, so it's not really a big difference. But it is hard when the kids have their moments when they fight with each other."
So far the page has raised more than $8,000, but that’s not the only support they have received from the community.
"I would also like to thank Home Hardware in Espanola," she said. "They donated a lot of lumber and drywall and doors so we could make bedrooms. The Lion’s Club in Espanola, they donated $1,000 in Giant Tiger gift cards."
Kennedy said she's overwhelmed by the generosity and the support the family has received.
"I can’t believe how many generous people are out there," she said.
Kennedy said the children are doing OK considering the circumstances and that they all have been seeing counselors to help with their grief.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10,000 Zantac lawsuits in U.S.: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.