Have a Heart for the Kids

Many will agree that family is the most important part about the holidays. Being with loved ones is paramount.

But there are kids in the Tampa Bay area who miss out on that simple and most basic joy about growing up.

The Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco is an organization that helps children find loving homes around the country.

The Heart Gallery is a nationwide service that has professional photographers take photos of children available for adoption and puts them in galleries, so the children are seen by others. Perhaps a family looking for a child to adopt will see a kid who captures their eyes and heart.

The Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco was started in 2006 and showcases the photos of local kids currently in foster care.

The Heart Gallery children of Tampa Bay are in need of homes, and there are many ways that you can help out.

One of the ways is to be a general volunteer. These are the people who help set up and remove gallery installations and staff events. To find out more about volunteering, contact Carol Hughes.

Another way is to volunteer as a photographer. The Heart Gallery is looking for photographers who can help the children express their personalities and really shine in an image. If you are interested in becoming a Heart Gallery photographer, please contact Tim Boyles.

If you own a suitable venue, you can also volunteer to host the gallery. The Heart Gallery is looking for locations that are high traffic and will attract prospective parents. If you are interested in hosting the gallery, please contact Andrea Bouchard.

If you can't give time, the Heart Gallery also accepts donations to help sustain itself. The Heart Gallery has provided a sheet of what donations can be used for.

• $50 Provides signage for the Traveling Gallery

• $200 Will give every child on the Heart Gallery a set of wallet Photos of their portrait image

• $480 Covers a year of newsletter and email costs

• $750 Sponsors one child for a year on the travelling gallery and website

• $1,200 Provides a permanent mini-gallery at a community location

• $2,000 Provides mounted portraits for the travelling gallery for one year.

Of course, if you have a big enough heart and are able to, adoption is also an option. There's no better way to volunteer than to help give a child a home.

For more information on the Heart Gallery, check their website.