Event at Greenburgh Public Library to draw attention to the need for adoptive and foster parents. The Heart Gallery, a traveling photographic exhibit created to find “forever families” for children in foster care, comes to the Greenburgh Public Library at 300 Tarrytown Rd., Elmsford at 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 3.
“Through the Heart Gallery, we are giving a face to these children in need,” said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “And by doing so, the goal is to help find them loving homes.”
This is the ninth year that the county, through the Department of Social Services, has participated in this nationwide effort designed to increase the number of adoptive families for children needing permanent homes. Photographs of local and area children who are in need of a home will be on display through Dec. 5. This year, New York City’s Administration of Children and Families and Orange County’s DSS will also participate.
Photographs from the Heart Gallery may be viewed at www.westchestergov.com/heartgallery.
As of October 2013, there were 183 children in Westchester County who have the goal of adoption. Several of these children were adopted on Adoption Day in November, as part of National Adoption Month.
“The need for good homes is always there,” said Astorino. “I urge people who might be interested in becoming an adoptive or foster parent to call United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline today.”
By calling 2-1-1, residents can begin the screening process to see if they would qualify to be a foster parent. Learn more about becoming a foster parent, and watch a video of foster children and parents, via the United Way of Westchester and Putnam by visiting http://uwwp.org/foster.shtml.
Those scheduled to attend the Dec. 3 event include:
- Kevin J. Plunkett, deputy county executive
- Kevin McGuire, the county’s commissioner of Social Services
- Judge Kathie Davidson, the supervisor judge of the Family Court for the 9th Judicial District
- Tara Linh Leaman, vice president of AmerAsians Building Bridges Consulting
- Judith Beville, William & Ethel Beville Heart Gallery
- Ruth Jeffers, a foster/adoptive parent.
