Most courtrooms are not the most pleasant places to be, but for one Michigan foster child, it was a place filled with pink and red hearts and unconditional love.
Michael Clark Jr., 5, decided to invite his entire kindergarten class to his adoption hearing at a Kent County courtroom on Thursday. As Clark sat before a judge next to his new family, which included his new mom Andrea Melvin and father David Eaton, his classmates from the Wealthy Elementary School of East Grand Rapids, Mich. showed their support by holding up little hearts on sticks.
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“Many organizations donate their time and resources to make it a success,” 17th Circuit Court adoption caseworker Holly Hernandez said. “Michael’s adoption was one of many very special celebrations!”
According to USA Today, though National Adoption Day takes place in November, Michigan has its adoption day in December in order to invite Santa and his elves. The photo of Clark’s adoption was posted on the court’s Facebook page with the caption, “It’s adoption day at the courthouse — the BEST day of the year!” the nonprofit wrote. “Congratulations to Michael and his family . . . so cool that his entire class came to support him!”, and has gotten over 100,000 shares.
According to the New York Daily News, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Kent County, one of the sponsors of Adoption Day, congratulated the boy with its own social media post, writing, “It’s adoption day at the courthouse — the BEST day of the year!” the nonprofit wrote. “Congratulations to Michael and his family . . . so cool that his entire class came to support him!”
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In a separate Facebook post, Kent County officials wrote, “It’s Adoption Day at the Kent County Courthouse. 37 children are being lovingly and officially welcomed by their families. There is not a dry eye in
Judge Patricia Gardner’s courtroom.”
According to USA Today, there are more than 125,000 children waiting to be adopted from foster care in the United States.