After adopting nine children in addition to her three biological kids, Christy Obie-Barrett knew she was prepared to offer something more to the Lane County foster children who were still in search of a loving family.
That’s why she founded A Family for Every Child (AFFEC) Heart Gallery, a non-profit organization that aims to find new homes for Oregon’s foster children.
The organization helps facilitate the process of adoption by recruiting families for foster children, who are often referred to AFFEC by other foster programs. The non-profit recruits adopting families in a number of different ways using the media and its Web site.
AFFEC also creates wall exhibits, or “heart galleries” as the organization calls them, which display photographs and biographies of foster children seeking permanent families. These heart gallery exhibits can be found in locations throughout Eugene and Oregon including the Gateway mall, the Eugene airport and the Market of Choice at 29th and Willamette. 
Additionally, AFFEC also offers a mentor program for foster youth from ages 12 to 21. The program’s goal is to ensure that foster youth are successful in completing school and transitioning into their lives as adults, according to the Lane County Heart Gallery Web site.
The organization has experienced great success in its three years of existence. It has moved more than 200 children who were featured on the Web site into foster families. “I had no idea it would be this big. People really responded,” Obie-Barrett said.
Each year, A Family For Every Child works with 250 of the 1000 kids in the Lane County foster program.
Each year, AFFEC works with 250 of the 1000 kids in the Lane County foster program. Obie-Barrett says around 70 percent of the children in all the different programs their organization offers are in the Lane County area.
Obie-Barrett’s decision to devote much of her time to a foster program stemmed from her compassion for foster children and her first-hand knowledge of the adoption process. “I felt confident that I knew enough to navigate the system,” Obie-Barrett said.
“When I see kids and parents become families,” Obie-Barrett said with a sigh, “I don’t know how I could get that from a private business.” Obie-Barrett said she finds it is an amazing experience to spend her time doing something she knows is making a difference. “I’d like to believe it betters our society by providing a better life after foster care.”
There are a number of ways for Eugene community members to get involved with A Family for Every Child Heart Gallery. Mentoring, volunteering, and sponsoring a child’s photograph to be mounted on a Heart Gallery wall are all great ways to help out Lane County’s foster children. Also, local businesses can support the cause by allowing the organization to set up a Heart Gallery display in their venue.
For more information, contact Christy Obie-Barrett by email or by phone at 541.343.2856.
Camille Rasmussen is a Journalism student at the University of Oregon who is minoring in French and Business Administration. Learn more about Camille on her blog.
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