‘Rainbow Room’ helps El Paso children in protective custody

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.

In 2015, there were more than 2,000 confirmed cases of child abuse or neglect in El Paso.

Many of the children removed from their home by Child Protective Services likely got assistance from the Rainbow Room.

The Rainbow Room is stocked with personal hygiene items, clothing, hair accessories, blankets and stuffed animals for children during an open CPS investigation.

Nonprofit organization, Community Partners of El Paso, collects donations to keep the Rainbow Room open and available to some of the most vulnerable children in the El Paso area.

Community Partners of El Paso is made up of all volunteers who help secure grants, organize fundraisers or team up with other local organizations to host donation drives.

Upon removal from a home, volunteer Julian Salinas said children receive what is called a “blue bag-” filled with age-appropriate items like diapers, clothing and school supplies.

Community Partners of El Paso helps newborns to kids 17 years of age.

The Rainbow Room only collects new items because volunteers believe the children have already gone through enough a traumatic experience.

“We want these children to have new things, we want them to be able to take off the tags of their new shoes and new clothing,” Salinas said.

Some of the items inside the Rainbow Room also help the families of children removed from their homes.

A CPS worker told ABC-7 many times they walk into homes that are “filthy and unsanitary or unsafe for the child.”

Volunteers provide household cleaning products for the homes in need.

If you would like to donate to Community Partners of El Paso, find more information here.