Parents volunteer as Columbia preschool cleans up after severe weather

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Looking around Little Miracles Preschool, owner Kristen Baker points out fences torn from the ground, a slide ripped off its hinges and broken trees.

Little Miracles Preschool closed Monday because of extensive damage from Sunday’s storm. Volunteers and teachers worked since 7 a.m. Monday to clean up the preschool’s backyard.

Baker said the draw of the school is the outdoor space, where students spend around 80% of their day. But Baker said she knew during Sunday night’s storms that it wouldn’t be possible to have children play out there.

“It felt like the house was falling apart,” Baker said.

PHOTO GALLERY: Columbia storm damage

Several parents came to the preschool to help clean up the yard Monday morning, including two fathers with trucks and chainsaws who hauled off most of the trees and branches that were littering the yard.

“I think we’ve had at least six families from our group that, at a moment’s notice, dropped everything and came out this morning to help us,” Baker said.

Baker said she’s touched by the response from the parents and hopes to open Little Miracles on Tuesday.