|
Removing a child from his or her home by an agent of Child Protective Services (CPS) can be an incredibly traumatic experience. This child, who has already suffered from abuse, is now pulled away from all familiar support systems - his or her home, friends, school, etc., and is often left with no clothing or personal possessions which may have previously offered a sense of security. It is very important for CaseWorkers to restore some sense of security and wellbeing within the child as soon as is possible.
The Rainbow Room, located in Quitman, Texas at 430 S. Bermuda Street, was originally developed in 1998 as an emergency resource for Wood County's CPS CaseWorkers. The Rainbow Room provides them with 24 hour x 7 days access to a ready supply of the clothing, hygiene products, and the other basic items needed for child care prior to their transition to foster care which may take several days.
The Rainbow Room stocks apparel in sizes that range from toddlers to teenagers. When a CaseWorker arrives with a child, a tote or diaper bag is filled with age-appropriate items including clothing, underwear, shoes, baby formula, and school supplies. Along with the basic necessities the Rainbow Room is stocked with stuffed animals, blankets, toys, games and other comforting items that help relieve stress on the children and bring some normalcy back into their lives. Household cleaning supplies for families who are working with CPS to regain or maintain custody of their children are also stocked within the Room.
There are three windows in the Rainbow Room that need to be replaced because of broken panels and heavily deteriorated frames. The cost of replacing the three windows has been estimated to be $410 for materials. Quitman Rotarian Matt Knutsen, a building contractor, has agreed to remove the old windows and install the new ones at no cost.
Matching funds are requested to support the $410 out-of-pocket cost to replace these windows.
The Rainbow Room is funded and operated by the Wood County Child Protection Board, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. No federal or state financial grants contribute to the operation of the Rainbow Room. It is funded solely by private charitable donations.
| 
