Advertisement

firehouse pizza banner

Want Kids?

I have a couple of t-shirts (more than a couple really) at home that proclaim “Want Kids?” on the front.  Needless to say, I have gotten some odd looks that have ranged from people thinking I was advertising for a “baby Daddy” to trying to give away one of the mine.  Usually I just laugh at the comments and then turn around and show them the back of the t-shirt that says “Adopt”, which will either get an “oh….” response or start another conversation all together.

The “Want Kids? Adopt!” idea came from a couple of the social workers at the local Department of Protection and Permanency who were trying to find a way to reach out to the public in an effort to recruit more foster and adoptive parents.  I think their idea was brilliant and has generated the publicity they set out to achieve.  I admire these workers for their determination in finding the children in our region a permanent and loving home.  I am sure it is a daunting task at times.  You can throw out all the statistics in the world and publish pictures and biographies in a newspaper or on a website, but you can’t make someone care.

So what is the factor that causes someone to decide to go out on a limb and take that chance?  Was it a shirt?  Was it an article?  Was it the picture of a waiting child’s eyes staring back at them?  I have no idea.  What I do know is that these kids deserve to have a childhood.  They deserve to have someone love them unconditionally.  They deserve to have someone there at their milestones in their lives.  They deserve to have someone that will expend their time and energy on them just because.  They deserve to have a chance in this world to be successful.  They don’t deserve to become just another statistic in someone’s quarterly report.

“I am only one. But still, I am one.  I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something.  And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.  -- Edward Everett Hale”

 “Want Kids?”  Then start by being the one that can make all the difference in the life of a child.

Quavante (07/96) has a wonderful smile that is absolutely contagious. "Q" (as he likes to be called) is one of many KY foster children who are available for adoption. He deserves a permanent and loving home. Q is soft spoken but also very outgoing and fun-loving. He likes to joke around and make people laugh. He is a popular and funny kid! Q loves all sports including basketball and roller skating. He enjoys playing the drums. Q is never bored and always finds something to do for fun. He says that school is just OK, but he makes good grades. Q needs a family who will dedicate time to mentor him, help him develop leadership skills, and who would encourage him to participate in extra-curricular school activities or sports teams. He would love to have adoptive parents who could give him time and attention.

C. Denise Lambrianou is the Program Coordinator for Family Enrichment Center-Adoption Resource Program, which is funded in part by a grant from the Cabinet of Health and Family Services, Department of Protection and Permanency and Wendy’s of Bowling Green. If you would like information about becoming a foster or adoptive family, please call (270) 781-6714 x 3 or (866) 842-9032 x 3.

Tags: 


Bookmark and Share

Advertisements