CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dozens of families gathered in Mecklenburg County to celebrate children who were successfully adopted within the past year.
According to Mecklenburg’s Youth and Family Services Department, more than 500 kids are currently living in foster care. Now, that same department is raising awareness on National Adoption Day in hopes of connecting children with a loving, permanent family.
There were loud cheers in and around the courthouse Saturday as many were filled with excitement as the community celebrated 34 children that have found their permanent family from October 2022 and October 2023.
“Child Protective Services is a difficult job, difficult work," Charles Bradley with Mecklenburg's Youth and Family Services, said. "But when we have the opportunity to to celebrate that many families that opened their home and their heart to have a forever family for each and every child.”
An important task for the department includes connecting a child with a family that’s willing to love and support them. Those responsibilities are exactly why Coreen Thorpe became an adoptive parent.
Thorpe was in attendance to celebrate her daughter. When asked why she became a adoptive parent, she said, “Because they need a home and they need love.”
The entire month of November is National Adoption Month. The county’s family services department is hopeful to see more families spread their love to kids that need it most.
“We work tirelessly to make sure that our kids have forever families from the beginning of the time that they receive an investigation, and we start to work with that family," Rekita McDuffie said. "So we want our families to know that we care about the work that they have done, as well as parents to make forever families for our children who've been in care.
"They need us and we are the foundation, and we have to support our smaller generation."
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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