GREENVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Cody McElrath staked out a spot to line up his miniature cars with two playmates, then exclaimed "let's ram them." Nearby, three girls played games or colored, looking up occasionally to watch an animated video.

The children showed no outward signs of the terror a few days earlier when tornadoes ravaged this area of western Kentucky. Instead, while their parents were busy reassembling their lives, the children were content playing inside a former school bus converted into a mobile playroom just for kids who have been through disasters.

"It's the simple things in life that keep kids busy and keep them happy," said Kathryn Martin, the driving force behind the goodwill bus. "And during times like this, parents are not able to, so why not come here and help and do a small part."

Martin's motivation to comfort kids in times of disaster sprang from her own tragedy. Her 2-year-old son, C.J., was among 25 people killed in 2005 by a tornado that struck the Evansville, Ind., area.

Now, the play area on wheels is known as "C.J.'s Bus." The outside of the bright yellow bus features pictures of C.J., smiling and giving a thumbs up sign.