Baby shower for teenagers?
All children in CPS care are our babies

Have you ever been to a baby shower that lasts two days, for a child you're not likely to meet? It takes a lot of people, people with the faith to invest in the future, to hold such a shower.

The Rainbow Room is inviting the community to a shower for infants through teens Wednesday, April 23, through Friday April 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is in remembrance of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

"If everyone would just throw a few things or one extra item in their cart when they shop and find things on sale, it would go a long way to stocking our room," said volunteer Shari Gunter.

The Rainbow Room serves caseworkers for CPS, Child Protective Services. It stocks items needed for children who are placed in their care, often in the middle of the night with only the clothes they are wearing.

Caseworkers can pick up everything the child may need from the Rainbow Room, from shoes and clothes to hygiene items, and the comfort of a few toys. By law, all must be new and unused.

For babies, they particularly need disposable diapers, bottles, baby wipes, powder and lotion, diaper bags and clothing in all sizes.

For older children and teenagers, they need combs and tooth brushes, deodorant, soap and shampoo, clothing, underwear and shoes in all sizes. For the caregivers who provide shelter, they could use things like cleaning supplies and bathroom tissue.

"These are things we always need, all the time," Gunter said, "but for clothes we really need some seasonal items. We're wellstocked for winter because people were generous at Christmas time, but now that summer is coming we need shorts and swimsuits and things for warmer weather."

"Please remember the children are the future," said Tammy Dorsey at CPS.

The offices are at 928 Marvin Hancock Dr., Suite B, in Jasper. The Jasper County Child Welfare Board will provide refreshments for the shower.