LYNDONVILLE- November is National Adoption Month here in the United States.
Nineteen years ago, President Bill Clinton expanded the National Adoption Week into an entire month. The purpose? To help build awareness of adoption throughout the nation.
Thousands of community organizations arrange and host programs, events, and activites to share positive adoption stories, challenge the myths, and draw attention to thousands of children that are in foster care.
The Bickford family in Lyndonville understand this month all too well. They have recently adopted two children, Adrianna and Caiden, whom they have added to their family of three. Anneka and Michael Bickford are now parents to five children. At first, the two were just foster parents, but then the option of adoption came up.
Anneka Bickford said, "When the opportunity presented itself, it was a no brainer." Anneka is the owner of "Stay and Play" daycare in Lyndonville. The daycare started out of the Bickford's home, but moved it four years later to town where they have spent the last six years at the center.
Anneka is not the only one in the home to be excited about adopting, her husand Michael also loves it. When asked why adoption is a better option than being a foster parent, he said, "It's a whole different feeling. It's a different kind of love."
Their oldest son, Brock, loves spending time with his new brother and sister. He even lets Adrianna do his hair. But his favorite part is of the experience is going fishing with Caiden and playing ponies with Adrianna.
The mother would recommend adopting a child one hundred percent, "There are so many children out there that need good homes. It's just a really nice way to build your family," she says.
The father says the same, "Every child needs a decent family, every child needs to be loved, and grow up with a decent family. Every child needs the family experience."
The whole family believes that adoption is a life changing experience and that the children that are coming into their home are just looking to be loved.
National Adoption Day is Novermber 22nd. Last year, approximately 4,500 children that were in foster care were adopted on National Adoption Day. If you would like more information on adopting in Vermont, you can visit the Department for Children and Families website.