Daycare burglarized in Fort Myers

One Fort Myers business owner is recovering after a burglar broke in and stole from her daycare.

Singing songs, learning colors of the rainbow in different languages, outside playtime, and a home away from home are just some of the many joys here at Challenged Minds Learning Center.

“Miss Pat always make sure that if a kid doesn’t have clothes, she makes sure, you know, they get some donations of clothes,” said Judie Burroughs. “She sends kids that, you know family doesn’t have milk or eggs, like they go home with that. She just is an all-around great, giving person.”

“Doesn’t matter, like I said, where they coming from, what’s what language they speak, we help them succeed,” said owner Patricia Dominguez. “And it was just sad that I get to miss my own Thanksgiving with my family because I had to be here fixing and cleaning the mess they made and to fix all the damages.”

On Thanksgiving day, someone broke Miss Pat’s front door in with a boulder.

Fort Myers police investigated and Miss Pat’s security cameras weren’t working at the time.

Police say the thief stole several children’s games, diapers, and baby formula, as well as knocked her certificates off the wall of the daycare.

The worst part, she said, was the front door that’s supposed to welcome in her children.

“We want to get it replaced, because every time you look at it’s a constant reminder, you know,” said Dominguez. “I feel like I lost myself as my sense of security, I always felt like I was at home, and now I don’t feel safe. So once the door is your place? I think we can close the chapter and move on,”

Now, parents and workers at Challenged Minds are collecting donations to replace what was stolen.

Everyone I spoke with today said they just want to help and do what she has done for them over the years.