The World Trade Center Daycare That Safeguarded 28 Kids on 9/11

On Sept. 11, 2001, Children’s Discovery Center, a daycare in World Trade Center Building 5, was in the middle of morning drop-off when the planes hit. Teachers Tara Jones and Onica Sarjeant evacuated the children—carrying babies, guiding walkers, and shielding them from debris—as chaos enveloped the plaza. The groups moved about a mile toward safety, finding refuge near St. Paul’s Chapel and eventually reaching various city shelters and hospitals. All 28 children were reunited with their parents, though the caregivers carried lasting trauma, including PTSD. The story is told in a Retro Report documentary, highlighting a moment of quiet courage amid catastrophe.