GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.- The holiday season can be especially hard for thousands of foster children in Michigan.
Gerald is spending his holidays hoping for a forever home.
Gerald seems wise beyond his years: he says the holidays are all about families. But after spending just a few minutes with him, you’ll quickly realize he has the spunk and energy of two 13-year-olds.
An energetic and loving addition to any home.
“Families that are there and they care, they like to take you out and go to the park and stuff and go for walks and then understand what you need,” Gerald, 13, says.
This holiday season, he doesn’t have a foster family or a potential adoptive family and is planning to spend the holidays alone with other foster children and staff.
He’s hoping his dream of having a family to come home to comes true next year.
“I don’t really care about he presents that much, just because I’ve learned when I was with my foster parents that presents don’t matter, it’s just the family,” he says.
Gerald would love parents who`ll listen, making time for him.
“That they`re really really nice and they talk to you about your feelings and what happened at school,” he says.
He’d also like to join a family through love and faith.
“I’d like to look for a family that`s Christian and they like to go to church because that’s what I’d like to do in the future,” he says.
Gerald loves music especially the instrument displays we checked out at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
"I used to play flute when I was in fifth grade, but now I focus on a stringed instrument,” he said.
He says he’s easy going after taking some time to get to know people hoping potential parents take the time to get to know him and welcome him into their homes.
“That would change my life completely, like if I could just be able to talk to them,” he says.
As he waits and hopes for a Christmas next year when he’s not alone.
“Families are special the way they are,” he says. “I don’t focus on gifts, I focus on families.”
FOX 17 has teamed up with Lutheran Adoption Services to help provide presents for foster children in Michigan who might otherwise not get any.
If you’re interested in adopting Gerald – or any other youth from the Michigan Foster System – call Orchards Children’s Services at 855-694-7301.
Adopting any child through the Michigan Foster System comes at absolutely no cost.
