Probably one of the coolest things I have gotten involved with through a friend is the
South Carolina Heart Gallery. Photographers throughout the state volunteer to take pictures of foster children in different regions of t
he state that become part of galleries that travel around the state to promote adoption. In the past year that I have worked with the Heart Gallery, I have meet some amazing kids. This past summer marked a year and I returned to Florence to shoot for a third time. This time I had four brothers I took pictures of last year and a brother that I shoot last year with his sister, who was no longer adoptable because she reached 18. It was great to see the boys again, but at the same time sad because they hadn't gotten a home and they desire an amazing home. They have so much spirit and joy and are truly great kids.
The other day I was eating lunch with a friend and her roommate from undergrad ate with us. She is getting her masters degree in social work and we got to talking about the Heart Gallery. She said she had just gotten some pictures of a boy that she worked with and I curiously asked to see it. It was unbelievable, but it was a photo of a boy I had shoot last summer. He was really quite, but it was so special. I will never forget before I left for the day I went over to say bye and let him know I would get him some pictures that we had taken. He asked if I would print some for his mom and I said I would and at that moment, he reached out and gave me a huge hug. It was at that moment I knew I was making a difference to him. I don't always feel like I can or do actually do a lot to help others, but getting to use my love of photography to help these kids means the world to me.
This past year I also took photos in Columbia at the zoo. Jakaar was deaf, but had a hearing aid. His foster mom realized half way through the it wasn't on even though he said it was, so he hadn't heard anything we had been saying, just shaking his head yes to everything! He had this huge smile from the moment he walked up and I was hooked. We journeyed around the zoo and seeing him experience the animals was priceless. That day I also had two brothers who at first were a little unsure of things. I gave them the zoo map and asked them where they wanted to go. They picked the train. The volunteer with us asked if we were allowed to let them ride and I asked her, "what are they going to do, fire me?" They loved the train and we continued our trek through the zoo. I got some great pictures of them and then they helped me and took pictures as well as come up with their own poses! That day I have two others girls that rounded out whole I shoot.
I can't post the photos, but you can check them out at
scheargallery.com and click on Galleries.
In Region II, you can see Hadrian Zyanvious and Jakaar, in the first panel of photos (center bottom and right bottom) and in the third panel of photos, Brittany is the left photo in the middle.
In Region IV Brandy is the top left on the first panel of photos, Danny and Darius are center left on the second panel of photos and Jaivon and RaiQuawn are the far right on the same row. They are brothers to Jerone and Jimmy on the next panel top left. In the next panel is Tereka and Rayquan that are the brother and sister I mentioned from last year and Tyre is the boy I mentioned that my friend's roommate was working with (middle row far left). As you look through, the photos with the read heart logo mean the children now have families!
UPDATE!!!
Recently I learned that two of the boys I got to photograph found a home! This project is so special to me and these kids deserve the best.
