Hundreds of children are awaiting adoption in Rhode Island. Now some of their portraits are on display at an exhibit in Providence City Hall.
16 portraits of smiling Rhode Island children between the ages of eight and 19 are hanging now in the city’s tax collection office. It’s not exactly what you’d expect to find when you go to pay your bill. But Adoption Rhode Island head Darlene Allen says she hopes the portraits will raise awareness about the need for more adoptive families.
“Many people don’t realize that we have kids of all ages in our foster care system that are waiting for families.”
More than 2000 children are in foster care in Rhode Island, including about 200 waiting for adoption. The number of children entering state care has surged over the past few years.
Providence resident Amy LeClaire and her husband fostered two young children and have recently completed the formal adoption process.
“We have found that it’s been a great way to add to our family,” said LeClaire. “We feel no differently about our children that we’ve adopted versus our children who are biological. There’s absolutely no difference.”
LeClaire and her two adoptive children were on hand to celebrate the new exhibit of portraits of children waiting for adoption in Rhode Island. The Heart Gallery exhibit, sponsored by Adoption Rhode Island, is celebrating its 10th anniversary.