Christmas in July season ends

This year’s annual Christmas in July drive ends today, but the spirit of giving can last all year.

Donations to the Cherokee County Rainbow Room can be made year-round at Cherokee County’s Department of Family Protective Services office, 1037 SE Loop 456, in Jacksonville.

“Our needs are in a constant flux,” Cherokee County Child & Family Welfare Board (CCFWB) member Shirley Reese said. “We never know just what we’re going to need at any given time.

“We’re always needing clothing and personal hygiene items for our teenaged kids, and cleaning products are a never-ending need as well.”

Christmas in July organizers said numerous bags were collected at donation stations at the Jacksonville, Rusk and Alto libraries over the month of July.

“We want to thank our public libraries for their continued support of our drive,” drive co-organizer Jerry Parker said. “We couldn’t do it without them.”

The Rainbow Room, which is stocked solely with donations from the community, provides the necessities to children who are removed from abusive or neglectful homes. Clothing, personal hygiene items, school supplies, shoes, toys and books, diapers, even car seats and other equipment are all ready to go when a child is in need.

Rainbow Room officials remind citizens to donate new clothing, shoes and toys.

“The Rainbow Room’s motto is ‘abused and neglected children do not deserve abused and neglected things,’” the Texas Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS)’s website states.

Visit www.tccwb.org for more information on to make a monetary donation to the Cherokee County Rainbow Room.

Call 1-800-252-5400 to report abuse, neglect or exploitation of children, the elderly, or people with disabilities, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit www.txabusehotlineorg.