Children's Assessment Center unveils new 'shopping' room for survivors of sex trafficking

Children who have experienced sex trafficking can browse from hundreds of clothing items and shoes—all for free—thanks to a new initiative unveiled Nov. 14 by the nonprofit Children's Assessment Center with help from the Kolache Factory.

Now open

Called the Rainbow Room, the concept is meant to provide children and their families with a safe and fun "shopping" experience, CAC Development Manager Cassie Donovan said. Children can pick from gently used clothes, shoes, toiletries and other items.

“Supporting basic needs enables families to focus on healing from the trauma of child sexual abuse without worrying about financial burdens and provides normalizing experiences during this challenging time,” Donovan said in a statement.

Zooming in

A Katy-based location of the Kolache Factory was central to the effort to stock shoes and socks, Donovan said. The business collected $21,000 in donations from customers over the course of the summer, which was used to purchase 360 pairs of new Vans shoes, according to a Nov. 13 news release.

What else

Located at 2500 Bolsover St., Houston, the CAC advocates for the health and well being of children who have been sexually abused, offering a range of services that includes forensic interviewing, therapy and medical services, all free of charge. More than 900 advocacy center's exist across the U.S., and the CAC is the only one serving Harris County.