Regina daycare gets community support after break-in, scooters damaged

Regina is coming together to support a daycare after vandals broke in and damaged toys used by children. Damian Smith has the story.

Last week, a daycare on the east end of Regina was broken into, with several popular outdoor toys damaged. However, it did not take long for donations to come in, making sure the children could still have fun outside.

Megan Schmidt, the director at First Years Learning Center, said scooters, wiggler cars and cozy coupes are all popular items for kids attending the daycare. The toys are housed in a shed that was broken into in the early hours of July 10.

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According to Schmidt, a group of “three of four” teenagers hopped the “private yard” sign, then proceeded to climb a structure, jump into the shed and pull the equipment out.

In the yard, the group ransacked the shed and threw the scooters and wiggler cars around. When staff arrived on Friday morning they found two items that ended up being smashed.

“For us, it’s a lot,” she said. “We only had two cars to begin with and about five scooters, so it’s enough of a loss that it cuts down the use for the children, and they use them every single day.”

After posting to social media on Friday, the daycare has received several donations of new items. They’ve had new scooters and wiggler cars donated, along with some donors that have sent items through Amazon. The replacements vastly exceeded the two items that were originally broken.

“The response was widespread and immediate. We have more scooters and wiggle cars now than we did before this incident, which is fantastic because that just means that more children have access to them,” Schmidt said.

What started as debris on the ground has turned into a shed full of fun for kids at the daycare.

“It really showed the children that some people do bad things and some people make mistakes, but there’s way more good people out there doing good things and willing to help out,” Schmidt said.

“We’re just grateful and so thankful for everybody that reached out to us during this time.”

The Regina Police Service confirmed to CTV News it received a report of a break and enter on Friday, July 10. The investigation is considered still ongoing.