HELPING HANDS: HEART GALLERY

Helping foster kids in New Jersey

'100 Waiting Children:' This week meet Kevin and Shaquille

by Matt Reilly and Joe Malinconico/The Star-Ledger

Sunday January 04, 2009, 12:05 AM

Bud Glick/Heart GalleryKevin, DOB: 10/91, and brother Shaquille:, DOB: 9/93

Kevin has spent 12 years in the foster care system.

He likes basketball and football and is planning on going out for the soccer team at school. When he's not in school, he and his friends like to go to the park and ride their skateboards.

In school, Kevin enjoys science and history, but especially science.

"You can find out about how so much stuff is made, " he said.

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'100 Waiting Children:' This week meet Lynda

by Joe Malinconico/The Star-Ledger

Sunday December 28, 2008, 12:05 AM

David YellenLynda, DOB: 3/95

Lynda has found a good way to deal with her feelings. "I draw my emotions, '' she said. "Whatever I'm feeling, that's what I draw.'' It's better than therapy, she says.

The 13-year-old has pursued other artistic outlets. For example, there was a piano at one of Lynda's foster homes. She asked someone to teach her and she learned to play some basic tunes, like "Mary Had a Little Lamb.'' She also likes to dance.

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'100 Waiting Children:' This week meet Demetrius

by Matthew Reilly/The Star-Ledger

Sunday December 21, 2008, 4:00 AM

Photo by GuzmanDemetrius, DOB: 4/94

Like so many of the Heart Gallery children, Demetrius has spent most of his life in foster care, and doesn't reveal himself easily.

He sometimes experiences feelings of loss and abandonment. He even uses words like as "irritable" and "picky" when asked to describe himself, but also throws in "nice" and "great self-esteem, " and it's those qualities that begin to shine through as you spend more time with him.

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'100 Waiting Children:' This week meet Jaillah

by Matthew ReillyThe Star-Ledger

Sunday December 14, 2008, 8:59 PM

Karen PearsonJaillah, DOB: 9/94

Jaillah says he's been in foster care most of his life.

School is "okay, if I'm in the mood, " and he says he likes math because it's fun. Jaillah goes to an after school program, where he can work on his homework, and when that's finished there are activities for the kids.

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'100 Waiting Children:' This week meet Billy

by Joe Malinconico/The Star-Ledger

Sunday December 07, 2008, 8:58 PM

Tony FloydWilliam, DOB: 6/91

A couple of years ago, Billy appeared on a national television show to discuss a topic the 16-year-old knows all too well - the inequities of adoptions.

"Everybody wants to adopt little babies who are so cute and they can squeeze them and everything, '' said Billy. "People don't realize teenagers need families too. At least with teenagers, you can have a conversation with them.''

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'100 Waiting Children:' This week meet Lorraine

by Kate Coscarelli/The Star-Ledger

Sunday November 30, 2008, 8:54 PM

Richard PhibbsLorraine, DOB 6/16/91

Lorraine was just a little girl when her ingenuity helped her learn a hobby she still enjoys - doing hair.

Playing with her dog one day she was twirling two pieces of his fur together.

"I thought it was called braiding, until one day when I did it in three strands and I was like this looks different, " she said. "I was like 'figured it out.'"

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'100 Waiting Children:' This week meet Rashon

by Kelly Heyboer/The Star-Ledger

Saturday November 22, 2008, 8:23 PM

Photographer: Ed KashiRashon, DOB: 8/9/91

Rashon is the first to admit he hasn't had an easy life.

He has been in foster care since he was a toddler. He's been in more foster homes than he can count and was separated from his brother.

But he found an outlet for his frustration: Poetry.

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