Staff Trifecta in Kids Club

Most parents agree there's no one better to watch their children than grandma. Pearce's Kids Club boasts three incredible ladies who perfectly meet the grandma criteria: loving, caring, soothing, patient, and kind. They fly their grandma flag proudly and proclaim "Bring us your babies!"

Introducing Pat Davis, Sharon Hughes, and Patti Hedden, grandmas extraordinaire. Pat Davis is retired from a long career with Caterpillar. After a couple months of retirement, she got restless and returned to the workforce at St. Joseph's Nursing Home in Lacon for a time. When she left there, it didn't take long for her to get restless again. She wanted something part time where she could share her love and compassion with others. Through a friends recommendation, she found Pearce Kids Club. Pat has three children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Sharon Hughes is a registered nurse and spent most of her professional life in health care. She worked at Perry Memorial in Princeville, St. Joseph's Nursing Home, in a pediatrician's office, and as an industrial nurse at Cat. She is also a certified teachers aide, working with students with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. She still subs from time to time at IVC and Midland school districts. Sharon has three children and three grandchildren. One of her granddaughters has downs syndrome, part of the reason for her passion for working with children with disabilities. 

While Patti Hedden isn't officially a grandma yet, she dreams of that day and fills the void with the little ones who visit the Kids Club. Patti recently retired from a career in real estate. "I love to watch them play," says Patti. "The recurring playtime favorite is girls playing mommy, holding the baby dolls and feeding them lunch. Sometimes they 'drive' their babies to the park (the couch) for a picnic."

"The little boys seem very fond of Legos, building towers they then destroy with the trucks, along with creative sound effects!"

"We all love to buy things like coloring books and toys for the Kids Club," said Patti. "If a favorite toy is broken, we do our best to repair it. Anything for the kids!"   

The Kids Club is open to children ages six months to seven years Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon; Monday through Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday from 8:00 to 11:15 a.m. The cost is $1.25 per half-hour. 

Patti Hedden

Pat Davis

Sharon Hughes