How to help rescued kitten be more comfortable at adoption events?

Not sure if this is the correct forum for this topic, so please redirect me if there's a better place for this. 

A kitten found our front porch bowl about six weeks ago.  She was very tame, obviously someone's pet.  We tried to find her owners (flyers in the neighborhood, posted on local lost pet sites, checked for a chip, etc.) without any luck.  After several attempts, I was able to get semi-attached to a cat rescue group. They allow me to bring her to adoption events, but don't help with costs or promote her on their website at all. So I paid for kitty to be spayed, got her first round of shots and tested for FeLV.  She is in great health, and is a super sweet, very active kitty.  She's been to three adoption events with this rescue group, which take place inside one of the big box pet supply stores.  The poor baby is absolutely terrified when she's there.  After the first event, we brought along the little blanket that she likes to sleep on.  She spent the next two events hiding under her blanket and shivering. 

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to help her be less afraid?  One of the rescue ladies suggested dosing her with catnip before bringing her to an event.  I have a toy that's loaded with catnip, which she enjoys.  She's also got a recycled fur roll that she likes to wrestle with.  Was thinking about bringing those items to go in her crate during adoptions.  I was also thinking about Feliway spray to spritz on her blanket.

Any other ideas?  I can't keep this kitty forever, as much as I'd love to.  I have five of my own, one of whom is extremely territorial and is having a very hard time allowing this kitten to be in her space.

Thanks for any help!

Is there a spot away from others that people could hold her and get to know her? If it is like our Pet Smart there is not an adoption room.  Try exposing her to family/friends/children as part of training. She may be less afraid. I had to use my family and friends to come over to expose feral kittens to humans, I had them bring small dogs also so they were not afraid. They all run to the door now to greet visitors. I have never used the feliway, but I have seen people post that it works.

Thanks for your reply.  The rescue group brings crates that the fosters stay in for the adoption days. The crates are set up on the opposite side of the store from the permanent adoption area, which does have a meeting space.  My kitten goes in one of the crates, so she is exposed to all kinds of new and scary people and sounds and smells.  She hides under her blanket, so no one sees her and she doesn't get taken out to visit with potential new families. 

The rescue group told us to just drop her off and pick her up, no need to stay the whole day with her.  I think we will try the Feliway, the familiar toys and stay with her for a couple of the events to see if she improves and gets more used to being there.

That's so sad, because people don't want a kitten that scared. But if she was fine with you, there should be hope. Maybe you could print up a sign to put beside her crate, saying that she is terrified now, but did fine with you, or maybe your story above? I couldn't find a home for a cat until she got hit by a car, then three people wanted her. I'm not suggesting ANYTHING so drastic because it was heart breaking at the time (she did fully recover) but maybe if people knew her story they would feel sorry for her and make room in their home. Good luck, and keep us posted!

Would she feel more comfortable with another kitten (that has been checked) in the cage? A kitten to play with would distract her from all the scary stuff.

Yes!  I had started this but got sidetracked (I'm at work... ).  I have a page with some photos and her history.  I'm trying to get some pics of her playing with my cats and chasing DaBird.  It's hard to get action shots!  I will enlist my husband to be the photographer and get this going.  She is so much fun to play with and once she gets used to a new place I know she will be fine.  She just needs to come out of hiding so people can see and meet her.

I think another kitten in her crate would be a good idea, but I don't know if they would do it, since we are not officially a part of this rescue group.  I will ask next time we go.  Great idea.

Why would they not want you to stay with her? It seems to me that she would be much more likely to come out and interact with someone she knows.

I plan to stay with her when she goes to her next adoption day on Sunday.  I don't think the rescue folks will have a problem with me staying; they just said that typically people drop their cats off and pick them up at the end of the day. 

An update: Izzy was a tiny bit less afraid on Sunday than during previous events, so maybe she's starting to become accustomed to it.  I stayed with her for the first hour and she stayed on top of her blanket while I was there, but when I went to pick her up a couple of hours later, she was hiding under it again. 

We are scheduled to take her again this Sunday.  I have some Rescue Remedy coming, which should be here on Friday, so I'll try that on her.  I also buried one of her blankets in our dirty clothes hamper a couple of days ago to get "mom and dad" scent on it.  I'll bring that along with us...hoping that our scent will be a bit more comforting than just her own.

I got my kitties hammocks! They seem to feel more secure and less afraid. You can also try "Calming Treats" by GNC that I found at PetSmart.

Well, isn't that clever!  I may have to look into that.  We took her to an event on Sunday and she was somewhat more relaxed this time.  I sprayed the inside of her carrier with Feliway about 30 minutes before we left.  She got Rescue Remedy drops in her food that morning and a second dose rubbed into her ears before we left the house.  The rescue agency said that she was scared for the first hour or so, but got better as the day went on.  She hid under her blanket for a while but then came out, and even sniffed a customer's fingers when he tried to pet her through the crate.  It may have also helped that the crate next to her had two kittens about the same age who were very curious and interested in her.  She sniffed noses with them a few times, too.  When she came home that afternoon, she was in much better shape as well.  Previously she has fallen into a deep sleep for several hours; this time she ate and drank a little as soon as she got out of the carrier, and immediately started playing with one of my cats.  So it does look like things are improving a bit.