In the spotlight are children available for adoption

Joseph and Patrick, generosity in spades. Photo courtesy of Pezz Photo

One Church One Child of Florida is a faith-based, 501(c) 3 organization operating statewide in partnership with the Department of Children and Families and local community based lead agencies and their providers to help raise awareness and recruit adoptive and foster families for children in local communities.

One Church One Child of Florida also recruits churches to partner in supporting local children in foster care through Church Watch-Care Ministries. Rev. Beverly H. Lane, of Tampa, serves as President for Florida’s One Church One Child State Board of Directors and Regional Vice-President for National One Church One Child and helps in leading the charge across the state to find both permanent and temporary homes for Florida’s children in foster care.

The reality is that over 50 percent of the children who need a permanent family are minorities. The series continues featuring children all over Florida who are waiting in foster care for a forever loving family to call their own.  September’s children are highlighted in this article.  Continue to pray for them and consider making them a part of your family through adoption or a part of your church through Project Watch-Care, for support and mentoring.

Joseph, 12

Joseph is a thoughtful, big-hearted kid. If he could choose to change one thing about the world it would be to end people stereotyping one another. He is funny and easygoing and loves to read.

If Joseph isn’t reading or sleeping he’s playing basketball, and his ultimate goal is to play professionally. Although he’s not too sure about plane travel, Joseph wants to have some adventures in life, and thinks it would be awesome to find the Lost World of Atlantis.

He looks up to his big brother Patrick because he’s kind and caring, and he’s looking forward to being part of a forever family that he can talk to when he has a question or problem.

Patrick, 16

Patrick is a very earnest, respectful young man with a heart of gold. He’s very intelligent and loves to read, especially science-fiction novels such as “Marco’s Millions.” He doesn’t share his little brother’s aversion to flying, and would love to have that experience, especially if the plane takes him to Paris!

He’s into all kinds of music and likes to play video games. Patrick can often seem serious and reserved, but he has a very silly side, too! When he grows up he’d like to either be a photographer or a therapist, and if he could be famous for anything it’d be for authoring a popular book series.

These guys crave the warmth and support of a forever family. They’d thrive in a two-parent home as the only children or with other brothers. They have so much potential and so much love to give!

If you are interested in knowing more about Joseph and Patrick and other children in foster care available for adoption, or if you would like to become a foster parent, mentor, partner or volunteer, please contact LaKay Fayson, recruitment coordinator for One Church One Child of Florida at (813) 740-0210 or lakay_fayson@ococfl.org.

Log on to www.ococfl.org for more information.