Business - Heart Gallery helps children find loving homes

Throughout the month of August, Saratoga Springs’ busiest time, several locations around town have had the smiling faces of children hanging on their walls. These children are looking for loving homes and are hoping their photos catch the eye of the right family.

Through the Capital Region Heart Gallery, the Saratoga YMCA, Wilton Mall, Impressions of Saratoga, Haute Mama, The Candy Co., G. Wilikers and the Children’s Museum will have photos of children on display through Aug. 26.

“All of these children have been freed for adoption by either their birth parents waving their rights or legal matters and are looking for a ‘forever home,’ as we call them,” said Sue Harrington, adoption worker for Saratoga County.

The children are between six and 16 years old and there are 35 featured in the Saratoga Springs exhibit.

“This is by no means all of the children who need a home,” Harrington said.

Heart Galleries exist all over the United States, and the Capital Region Heart Gallery is in its fifth year of operation, Harrington said. Over the past five years, more than 20 children have found permanent homes through the exhibit. This is the first time the gallery has come to Saratoga County. After the gallery closes in Saratoga Springs it will move to Liberty Ridge, south of Albany. The bigger exhibits, such as the ones at the Saratoga YMCA and Wilton Mall have a place to leave contact information for interested families.

“We are always looking for more foster families, even if they aren’t able to permanently adopt a child. We are trying to make a push for Saratoga County since we’ve never been up here before,” Harrington said.

This fall, Harrington and her coworker, Christine McNall, will be holding foster parenting classes for prospective families.

“We want to make the transition easier for the children and the families. Some of these children, especially the older ones, are high needs. They’ve been in and out of homes for a long time and have trouble attaching to families. We want to offer as much support as possible,” Harrington said.

The majority of the children in the local gallery are from all around the area, including Albany, Schenectady, Columbia, Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.

On Aug. 26, all of the photos from the exhibit will be brought to Wilton Mall, along with some of the children who are looking for homes and the Wilton Mall will host a back to school fashion show.

“Becky Valente at Wilton Mall has been great to work with and is doing everything possible to get these children into the fashion show and gather up the clothes they will wear,” Harrington said. “Malls have done this before with us, but Wilton Mall has been so receptive. I really hope this gets people interested in fostering or adopting. There are so many children in this area, and everywhere, that need good, loving homes. This is just one way we are getting out there to try to get them the homes they need.”