Photo gallery helps children find families

Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) - A photo gallery at the Plains Art Museum tonight is one full of hope and wishes. The second annual North Dakota Heart Gallery is underway at the Plains Art Museum in Fargo. For the past several months, 10-photographers have traveled the state, taking pictures of 25-children who are waiting to be adopted in North Dakota. Last year, 8 children that were featured were adopted.

“The thing we hear most is surprise that we have children in our state in our communities that don't have families it is not something we sit around thinking about.”

A thousand children in North Dakota are in foster care, 100 are awaiting adoption. Imagine what it's like for a child to see themselves in a poster, smiling silly, hoping someone sees their face and story and adopts them. It happened to 12-year old Dylon.

Kandi and Loren Tetzloff today looked this afternoon at the faces of 25-children, all waiting for someone to love them. This is a photo from last year’s Heart Gallery show. Dylon, a practical joker, the Tetzloffs fell in love with this character and adopted him.

“The look on their face to see the look when you first meet them for them to know they are going to have a forever family, when you see their picture and you see them, your heart just melts.”

Dylon joins Brad, also adopted, and 2-other siblings at home in Wahpeton. For the Detzloffs, this is a big week. Dylon is officially part of the family Saturday, National Adoption Day.

“Tough to see kids not having a place, everybody deserves a place. Everyone deserves a home.”

Candi remembers seeing Dylon's picture.

“I wanted to bring him home right there. I didn't want to leave him behind.”

And this moment, Dylon stopped briefly to look at another young boy needing a home, it's his brother.

Tags: kevin wallevand, heart gallery, arts, family, fargo, news, adoption