A 26-year-old daycare facility in Upper Darby destroyed by fire is moving forward, confident they can rebuild, writes Mattieo Iadonisi for 6abc.
Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids first opened in 1990 in a multi-purpose building at 6800 Market Street in Upper Darby.
On the evening of Jan. 8, a fire broke out on the building’s 4th floor. The Upper Darby Township Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire, and there were no injuries.
But the daycare, located one floor below, suffered water damage to a large part of its facility.
“Every time I come here, my heart breaks. We put on a smile for everyone, but it’s not easy,” said Danita Johnson, missions manager and the daughter of the founder of Darlene’s Wee Care 4 Kids.
About 90 of their children were temporarily placed at New Life daycare, with Darlene’s teachers still by their side.
There are about 30 to 40 other children who are displaced, either staying with family members or having to find another daycare away from their friends.
Johnson said there’s hope they can be back in business in the next 30 to 60 days in the same building.
Read more about the aftermath of a fire at Darlene’s Wee Care at 6abc.
