Fundraiser to help whistleblower who exposed coworkers' behavior at Plymouth child care center
Support for a former employee at Lil' Explorers Child Care in Plymouth has been launched after she exposed the inappropriate and abusive behavior shown by some staff members towards children in her care.
Yanni Thomas, of Maple Grove, detailed the allegations in a Facebook post last week, posting videos that depicted a female coworker screaming and sweating at preschool-age children, before aggressively picking them and up and roughly placing them into chairs.
Thomas announced in the post that she was quitting the childcare center as it "does not align with what I stand for ethically or morally when it comes to the safety and happiness of the children."
A spokesperson for the business told Bring Me The News that multiple employees have been fired since the videos and allegations were shared by Thomas.Plymouth Police Department continues to investigate the incidents at Lil' Explorers.
A GoFundMe created by Stephanie Studer, parent of a child who attended the daycare called Thomas's actions "courageous."
"Her actions have led to a police and DHS investigation and have raised critical awareness of the need for safer childcare environments," she wrote.
Studer says that Thomas's dream has been to open her own daycare someday, sparking her decision to launch the fundraiser.
"Let's come together to help Yanni turn this dream into a reality. Funds raised will go towards everything she needs to work towards building a daycare that prioritizes kindness, safety, and respect for every child," she wrote.
"Yanni is the hero in our children's story, and now we have the chance to change hers," she adds.
"By supporting Yanni, we are not only thanking her for her bravery but also ensuring that more children have a safe place to learn and grow under the care of someone we trust."
As of Tuesday afternoon, the fundraiser has raised nearly $1,500 of its $5,000 goal.
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