Schmitz celebrated as ‘Friend of the Child’

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

Gloria C. Schmitz put in 15 years of volunteer service with the Coryell County Rainbow Room as its Founding Chair doing her part to help as many children as possible.
In recognition of her service and all the good that she has done, members of the Rainbow Room’s Board of Directors held a celebration ceremony Thursday at the Child Protective Services building. 
During the ceremony, Schmitz received several awards including the Bill Duncan Friend of the Child Award, a proclamation from Coryell County Judge John Firth, a proclamation and pin from Mayor Frank Seffrood, and a certificate from Texas State Representative J.D. Sheffield. They also honored Schmitz by dedicating the Rainbow Room in her honor.
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Schmitz. “It’s great seeing all the familiar faces and to receive all those awards was awesome.”
Dozens of Schmitz’s friends, coworkers, and family members attended the event.
“We wanted to do something that honored the commitment Gloria made to the community,” said Clarence Enochs, who serves on the group’s Board of Directors. “During her time, she oversaw the distribution of over 25,000 items to abused and neglected children that have been displaced from their home.”
Schmitz and others saw the need for a Rainbow Room in Copperas Cove and helped start it in 2004 and helped lead the group until 2015 when they moved to another area, so that she and her husband could be closer to their grandchildren.
“She is one of the most generous, caring people that I know,” said Dianne Campbell. 
Campbell has been friends with Schmitz for over 35 years. “It’s heartbreaking work, but she focuses on the solution. You’re there to help, whatever it takes. She’s there to protect and provide…She’s always put kids first.”
The Rainbow Room is a 24-hour emergency resource center which seeks to assist Child Protective Service workers in helping the needs of abused and neglected children. Their stated mission is to restore dignity and inspire hope for the children in the care of Child Protective Services. The rainbow symbolizes unity and color blindness towards the wide spectrum of cultures, races, and backgrounds of the children and families served by CPS. In areas without a Rainbow Room, CPS officers generally pay for those items out of pocket.
Each year, the Rainbow Room distributes approximately 2,000 new, unused items like diapers, clothing, blankets, hygiene products, emergency items, and more.
“If you can conceive what a child will need, that’s what we try to provide,” said Enochs. “Think of this for a minute…a lot of times a child cannot take anything out of their home, not even that toy, or comfort, that doll or bear that probably is the only salvation they have when a parent or loved one is subjecting them to abuse or neglect. Think about having to leave that there…”
Rainbow Room is funded entirely through grants, donations, and the generosity of the community.