Lakeland childcare center closed after roof ripped off during Hurricane Milton

LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — Tanya Bryant was cleaning up hurricane debris Thursday when somebody suggested she check out her business.

The building, she was told, no longer had a roof.

"That was tough, and I thought maybe he had the wrong business, but when we pulled up and my daughter was crying, I knew that it was the right business," she said.

Bryant has owned All Aboard Learning Station, a childcare center in Lakeland, for 12 years.

She cares for more than 30 infants and young children while their parents or guardians go to work.

The center is now closed after Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off the building, exposing the playrooms to inches of rainfall.

"I had to hire somebody to extract the water because it was that much water back here," said Bryant in a room designated for one-year-olds.

The ceiling tiles, insulation, drywall and furniture were soaked and, in some cases, now growing mold.

"I'm hoping for swift repairs so that our children can return and our parents can lift that burden off of them to get back to work as quickly as possible because childcare is such a huge need in our community," said Bryant.

Bryant was awaiting a visit from an insurance adjustor before beginning repair work.

Childcare centers have notoriously slim profit margins so every day the center is closed is a hardship for Bryant and her six employees.

"I have no words. It's just a gut-wrenching feeling that I get so I don't have words for it, I have a feeling and it's gut-wrenching," said Bryant.

One of Bryant's employees is her daughter, Leeah Bell, who also operates Glow Beauty Bar & Spa in the building.

"This is where I do all my facials and as you can see, the roof is just caving in on us," Bell said. "I don't know when it's going to fall."

Bell said, knowing how much work she and her mother have put into their businesses makes it more heartbreaking.

She insisted this is not the end.

"We're going to come back even better stronger, with the help of God and our family and our support system," said Bell.

Bryant and Bell are open to volunteers pitching in to help with cleanup once the work can begin.

To find out how to volunteer, email or call 863-940-2882 or 863-904-7014.