My husband and I always knew we wanted to adopt, but deciding to move forward—and taking the first step to educate ourselves on our options—was overwhelming and confusing. We were lucky enough to know people who had already gone through the process with nationwide outreach programs, and we leaned on those friends for information and guidance. After meeting with a few agencies, we didn’t move forward. While we really wanted to be parents, we also wanted to connect with an organization grounded in a local mission. We wanted to believe in the humanity of the experience and for the process to feel less transactional—for both us, the birth parents. We found that with HFS.
HFS has been building families in Southern California since 1949 by finding permanent and loving homes for infants, the orphaned, and at-risk youth. My father-in-law bounced around between orphanages and group homes in his formative years, which inspired him later in life to give back and support parishes and schools with similar missions, like Our Lady of Refuge in Long Beach and St. John Bosco in Bellflower. My husband then took over supporting these institutions as an alum of both, and later as Board Chair of St. John Bosco. He stayed connected with teachers and staff who once taught him in these wonderful communities. When you start talking to people about your own story, they often open up about theirs. We learned that a teacher of John’s at OLR adopted her daughter through HFS, and the wife of a fellow Board Member at Bosco found her family the same way. And just like that, it was our turn.
It’s not always easy—that is the truth—but our story is one of renewed hope. After some time, we were connected with birth parents, and we knew instantly it was meant to be. I get goosebumps every time I tell the story. Today, as a new Board member and giving back myself, I not only enjoy sharing my own journey to HFS, but also hearing first-hand about all the hard work the team at HFS does: supporting birth parents and adoptive parents; providing ongoing counseling and guidance; doing fost-adopt work; and conducting community outreach with local hospitals, clinics, parishes, and other community groups. I was honored to be asked by our Outgoing (and still generously involved) Board President, Marianne Wright, to speak at an event in her home for the “Women’s Soup” group at Saint Mark’s Church Altadena in support of National Adoption Month. I shared my story, and the group donated generously to HFS right there at dinner. After COVID and the Eaton and Palisades fires, our local community light still shines bright and inspires me every day.
It may take a village to raise a child, but it also takes a strong community to educate, support, and remind us to keep the faith and pursue the family we’re meant to have.
