Andrea Marcanti / Arizona Silver Belt Tuffy Tiger Tot Center’s staff and last class celebrated their day with a cake and a party.

GLOBE — It was a sad day for Tuffy Tiger Tot Center on Friday, March 5, when the pre-school was forced to close its doors.

Tuffy Tiger has been in service for the past 40 years, and now due to the current economy crisis and a decrease in student enrollment the center can no longer cover payroll and expenses.

Carol McIntyre, who has helped at Tuffy Tiger for the past 16 years with crafts and activities, along with Michelle Powell, who has 15 years experience at the center, and Dusty Trevillyan, who has put in 14 years at Tuffy Tiger, were all very sad to see the center close.

Director Dorothy Horta, who has worked at the center 27 years and for 18 of those years has been the director, said, “I truly enjoyed working here, it has been like a second home to me. I’ve enjoyed all of the kids and met some really great people in the community through Tuffy Tiger. We tried very hard to keep it going and we really wish it could have stayed open.”

While it was a sad day for the staff, the kids celebrated the day with a big party that included pizza, cake, games and a movie.