Published: July 02, 2009 11:10 pm      

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas in July

By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Only 177 shopping days ’til Christmas! Wait, what?

For those who can’t wait to spread a little holiday cheer, Chili’s Grill and Bar and the Jacksonville Daily Progress are teaming up to give the Cherokee County Rainbow Room a Christmas in July.

Through the month of July, pick up a Chili’s to-go bag at the restaurant on U.S. Highway 69 South in Jacksonville; the Daily Progress, 526 E. Commerce St.; the HOPE Center, 595 S. Ragsdale St.; or the CPS office on the east end of Loop 456. Fill up the bag with items included on the wish lists (which come with the bags). Drop off filled bags at the Daily Progress office. The Rainbow Room serves local children who are removed from abusive or neglectful situations at home by the county’s Child Protective Services staff.

“When it becomes necessary for us to step in and remove these children from whatever situation they have at home, they come out with nothing a lot of the time,” said Suzan Ellis, Cherokee County Child Protective Services superintendent. “What the Rainbow Room does is provides some of the child’s basic necessities, like clothes, a toothbrush and that, plus some extras, like toys or blankets, to help make the transition less traumatic.

“The service the Rainbow provides is vital to what we do, especially since the state has no funds for this kind of thing,” she said.

CPS reports the office helped more than 50 families last year.

Organized by the Cherokee County Child and Family Welfare Board, the Room has been able to expand since the county’s CPS office recently moved into its own building on Loop 456 in Jacksonville. Items the Rainbow Room provides include personal hygiene items, clothing for children ages infant to 17 years of age, diapers for babies of all ages, shoes and outerwear, toys, blankets and other bed linens.

“We ask that people only donate new things for the Rainbow Room,” Welfare Board member Shirley Reese said. “Since most of the children who will be getting things from the Room are coming from bad situations, we like to be able to give them brand new items for a brand new start.”

Cleaning supplies and other household items are also accepted and are made available for foster parents who might be finding themselves parenting for the first time and clients who need just a little help with things at home.

Donated items will be presented to the Rainbow Room at the end of the business day, Friday, July 31. Chili’s will also sponsor a Give-back night in July to benefit the Rainbow Room. Date to be announced.