Harris County Precinct 3 Partnering with The Children's Assessment Center to Spread Holiday Cheer to Clients
The holiday season evokes a delight in giving and a joy for receiving gifts within our communities and around the world. We thoughtfully curate shopping lists with the hope of finding the perfect gift to those we love, drifting through stores and surfing the internet for hours on end. Children beam with excitement and anticipation, eagerly awaiting family gatherings and gift exchanges.
But for many children and their families in Harris County, the excitement of the holiday season is dimmed due to financial hardship and for some, marred by the effects of sexual abuse. The Children's Assessment Center (The CAC) exists in our community to protect children, heal families, and prevent child sexual abuse and child sex trafficking. The CAC is the only child advocacy center in Harris County and the largest in the nation. Founded in 1991, The CAC utilizes a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach to serve approximately 5,000 children and families annually.
The CAC hosts an annual Holiday Toy Drive to provide gifts for the clients they serve. For the past 24 years, The CAC has organized toy drives in collaboration with many of our community partners. Each year, their goal is to serve nearly 4,000 children during the holiday season. This year, because of our community's generosity, The CAC extended their program to serve the siblings of their clients, too.
“The toy drive helps children feel cherished and fosters joy during this challenging time in their lives. Some of the families we serve are from low socioeconomic communities and are unable to afford toys for their children. The holidays can create additional financial pressure on families and our toy drive not only fosters joy but relieves the stress of purchasing gifts for families in need,” said Tiffani Prosper, supervisor for children’s services at The Children’s Assessment Center.
On December 15, the children will receive their toys at the Spirit of Winter Holiday Party, which will be held at the CAC. Along with fulfilling holiday wish lists, our clients and their families will be entertained with face painting, arts and crafts, cooking decorating, games, holiday movies, dancing, and a visit from Santa.
This year, Harris County Precinct 3 has partnered with the CAC for the first time to bring this meaningful toy drive to life. Commissioner Ramsey toured the CAC facility and visited staff this past summer, impressed by the passion and dedication of all the employees and the organization’s mission to help heal children. All of the community centers in Precinct 3 will serve as donation sites through December 5, then collection boxes will be transported by Precinct 3 to the CAC.
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“As soon as [Commissioner Ramsey] saw the facility’s toy and clothing donation room, he knew he wanted to help contribute to it,” said Jeannie Peng, communications manager for Harris County Precinct 3.
Leading a lifelong career in service both professionally and personally, Commissioner Ramsey is an avid advocate for victims and their families, recognizing that the CAC helps our youngest and most vulnerable victims.
“This is why it is so important we aim to bring them joy this season with gifts from this toy drive,” said Peng.
The Rainbow Room is another service The CAC offers to children and families. The Rainbow Room provides families in need with clothing, shoes, winter coats, hygiene items, and other basic needs. All items in the Rainbow Room are generously donated by our community throughout the year. Rainbow Room donations are also gifted to our clients for special events, such as celebrating a birthday.
To learn more about The Children’s Assessment Center and how you can help during the holidays and throughout the year, please visit their website.
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Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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