AUSTIN, Texas — Every week, we feature a different child in the Texas foster care system in hopes of getting them adopted and helping them to find their forever family.
This week, KVUE's Hannah Rucker met up with Andrew at Pease Park for some fun in the sun.
Andrew is nine years old and about to finish up the third grade. He's been in and out of foster care since he was a toddler and said things have been tough over the years, especially at school. He said he's dealt with bullying and often feels like the odd one out.
"I feel like I don't belong," Andrew said. "I'm the only one who doesn't have a forever family, at least that I know of."
Andrew said he's excited to relax this summer. He enjoys water sports, dirt biking and playing his Xbox.
"I think it would be cool to find some siblings who are interested in some of the things I like," Andrew said.
PHOTOS | Forever Families: Meet Andrew
He said he likes to feel comforted whenever he gets sad or angry about something.
"Hugs always help me," Andrew said.
To learn more about Andrew or to put in an inquiry to adopt him, visit his page on the Heart Gallery of Central Texas.
KVUE launched the Forever Families segment with Partnerships for Children (PFC) in June 2020 to highlight children in the Heart Gallery of Central Texas who need secure and permanent families. Every day, there are nearly 1,000 children waiting to get adopted in Central Texas, according to PFC.
Editor's note: The children who are in the Heart Gallery program and featured in KVUE's Forever Families segments are children who have had every effort made on their behalf to connect them with family or others in their community to provide options for permanent, adoptive homes. Through no fault of their own, that hasn’t happened yet, and so in partnership with the Department of Family and Protective Services, we collaborate to bring awareness to KVUE viewers about these children in the hopes of finding them permanency before they age out.