A day care damaged by a fire in the 8th Ward was forced to close its doors for repairs and is asking the community for help.
Dozens of kids are now displaced from the Kids of Excellence Center, but owners said they are still counting their blessings.
“If we would have lost a child, a staff member, a family member, it would have been so devastating,” said Kristi Givens. “Last night, I laid in bed for like an hour. I couldn’t get up. I had to keep telling myself, ‘Get up, get up.’ You got to get up and fight, so many people are depending on you.”
Her day care has been in the area for about 30 years, serving kids as young as 6 weeks old.
The day care has been a go-to for families from all walks of life and all financial situations.
Givens said, “Hurricane Katrina, when we lost everything. COVID, when we had to shut down.”
Still, nothing could prepare her or her staff for Wednesday’s fire. The New Orleans Fire Department said the fire from an Airbnb nearby quickly spread to the day care. At least one other dwelling was also damaged. The day care was a total loss.
Precious Acker with Kids of Excellence said, “This is one of our pre-school rooms. One of our first rooms we open in the morning. If it was 30 minutes to 40 minutes later, we could have had babies here.”
Acker said the loss is hard, but she’s keeping hope.
“There’s much more inside. Not because of what we’ve been seeing due to this tragedy, but in general, it’s babies being fed and babies being loved,” Acker said.
Owners said they are working to find spots for the displaced students, including at their other two locations, vowing not to leave anyone behind.
“This is our stumping ground. This is what I love. This is where we have been for 26 years. So many memories that are gone. That we will never get back,” Acker said.
Fire officials tell WDSU they are still working to determine the cause of the fire at the home in the 2300 block of North Villere Street.
According to NOFD, a call was received just before 5:20 a.m. about the fire. 46 personnel and 17 fire units were used to put out the two-alarm fire.
WDSU has reached out to the city for more information on the Airbnb, including whether it is licensed.
To donate to the owners of Kids of Excellence, click this link:
Fundraiser by Precious Acker: Support Kids of Excellence After Devastating Fire
READ MORE:Well known NOLA 8th Ward day care destroyed in fire; owners hoping for help from community
