Join Other Montclair Families In Hosting An Abandoned Child This Summer

Through Kidsave's Summer Miracles program, Mark and Rachael Egan of Montclair will be hosting an orphaned Colombian child this summer.

But Kidsave—a child advocacy group with offices around the world—is urgently in need of more host families like the Egans from Montclair and the surrounding area.

Ten orphans—aged nine to 13—from Colombia will be visiting Montclair for four weeks in July. Kidsave is currently seeking local families to host these children during their four-week stay. The ultimate goal is to help them find adoptive families.

Those who are interested in adopting a child, or who are interested in helping a child find their forever family with the help of Kidsave, are encouraged to come to an orientation on Saturday, April 9 at 4 p.m. at the First Congregational Church at 40 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair.

Rachael Egan said she and her husband first learned about Kidsave eight years ago when they lived in Washington, D.C. They wanted to host a child at the time but Mark Egan was transferred to New York and, back then, Kidsave wasn't operating in this area.

The couple went on to adopt two infants, now three and five, before re-connecting with Kidsave again.

"We are very excited to host and help an older child from Colombia to become adopted. We don't think we are ready to adopt again at the moment," Rachael Egan said. "We may do so when our children are older, but for now we want to show a child who is orphaned the summer of his or her life, and help them to have a bright future with another family."

All are welcome at Saturday's orientation. Host families are needed, but there are plenty of other opportunities to help. Translators, advocates, fundraisers, and event organizers are very welcome as well.

The Kidsave website explains the program and gives some examples of the children's experiences and of their adoptions by families here.

Through its programs, Kidsave has helped more than 1,300 older children aged five to 18 find permanent homes.

During these summer programs, orphaned children are able to experience family life and attend weekend events that are designed to introduce them to families who are interested in adoption. Kidsave trains the host families, and through its vast volunteer community, recruits people who are interested in adoption.