Classmates rally round Kilwinning fire victim Joni
13 January
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Overwhelming: fellow James Watt students presented Joni Hamilton (front, left) with money they had raised after she lost everything in a fire at her Kilwinning family home
Classmates of Joni Hamilton who lost her Kilwinning family home in a fire days before Christmas have rallied round to help.
The Hamilton family lost everything, including their Christmas presents, in the inferno that destroyed their house in Concaird Square, Pennyburn.
As s1kilwinning reported at the time, the local community pulled together and raised nearly £1,000 for the Hamiltons.
Since then, kind-hearted students at James Watt College have rallied round to help 17-year-old Joni.
The hairdressing student was overwhelmed when her classmates presented her with some fundraising proceeds on her return after the Christmas break.
Joni will use the money to help replace her college books and uniform which were lost in the blaze.
She said: “It was good of the class to donate this money, which I will use to replace all the college stuff I lost in the fire.
“The local community has been great to my family and we are very grateful for all the help and support we have received from everyone.
“Irvine Housing have recently rehoused us in Pennyburn, and even donated carpets and blinds.”
Lecturer Christine Nairn said: “As part of a unit, ‘working with others’, the students raised £130 by organising a raffle for a chocolate hamper during the last week of term.
“Everyone was devastated to hear the news of what happened to Jodi and her family, and the students took the unanimous decision on their return to college to contribute the proceeds of that fundraising to Joni.”
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