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DONATIONS NEEDED: Gregg County nonprofit needs key items for children being placed in foster and temporary care

The Gregg County Rainbow Room is in desperate need of all sizes of diapers, wipes and onesies of varying sizes.

GREGG COUNTY, Texas — For at least thirty years, Rainbow Rooms in counties statewide have served as critical resource centers for children who are victims of unfortunate situations. The rooms were founded in the belief that abused or neglected children deserve better than their circumstances may allow. 

Volunteers at the Gregg County Rainbow Room couldn't agree more. 

"From start to finish, there’s not a thing in here that a kid doesn’t need when they leave care," volunteer Sally Francis said. "The first thing the case worker does is gather up three new sets of clothing, underwear, shoes, or whatever the kids needs."

The rainbow room is operated by the Gregg County Community Partners for Children and located in the office of the county's Child Protective Services (CPS). 

Francis has served as a volunteer for more than 20 years. In that time, she says she's witnessed the joy the non-profit has brought to children before they're placed in foster or temporary care. 

"The one case that I can tell you fits all of that was a mother that needed a place for her children temporarily so that she could get back on her feet and get started again," said Francis. "When they left here, there was a little boy about five and he walked out and he had a brand new pair of shoes clutched up here like this, and he was the happiest kid I believe I've ever seen."

The rainbow room is opened 24-hours, seven days a week. The items inside the room are supplied solely through donations. 

"Every county does for their own needs," Francis explained. "So, some counties need one thing and some counties need another, but every county takes care of its own needs.”

The Gregg County Rainbow Room serves between 40 to 50 children each month. 

In a post to its Facebook page, leaders asked for help from the community in restocking items critical to the care of those children. 

Credit: Facebook: Gregg County Rainbow Room

"Right now, we are having a drive where we’re looking for diapers, onesies and wipes, in particular," board member Brandy Bonner said. "We also always have a need for car seats and pack n’ plays.”

Bonner says the donations that are given to the nonprofit serve as a ray of hope in the lives of these children when it may be difficult for them to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

"It doesn’t happen to certain groups," Bonner said. "It is across the board. I've had anywhere from infants removed from the hospital through teenagers who are 18 years old, even who have children of their own. No one is excluded from these type of cases."

The Rainbow Room is also in need of winter clothing, specifically coats, for all age groups. Bonner says without the community's help, it would be impossible to maintain the room, which is an important resource to the agency. 

"They meet these needs of these kids so that they have a bag to take with them," Bonner explained. "They have things that’s theirs so that they can go into care with something that belong to them and they’re not just feeling completely isolated in a new environment.”

In addition to needing diapers, wipes and onesies of all sizes, the room is also in need of volunteers and monetary donations to be used to purchase larger items like car seats. 

“We keep everything in the rainbow room inventoried so that we know what’s coming in and what’s going out, that way we can know what we need the most of, as well as, what we need to resupply on," Bonner said. 

Anyone interested in donating to the Gregg County Rainbow Room can drop off the items or money at the two listed locations: 

  • Law Office of Molly Larison: 606 E. Methvin, Longview, Texas
  • CPS Office: 2130 Alpine Rd., Longview, Texas

The nonprofit will also have a donation bin available at CBS 19's Super Shredder Day happening on Thursday, November 7 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Only diapers and wipes will be accepted during the event. 

RELATED: NOVEMBER 7: Super Shredder Day in Tyler

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