Ashley

Born in 1994, Ashley describes herself as “smart, kind, caring, loving and helpful.” She enjoys reading, shopping and listening to music. She also likes swimming, biking and taking walks, especially along the beach where she can look for shells.

Ashley loves animals — cats, dogs, birds, horses — and would like to volunteer at a local animal shelter. She would like to be adopted by a family that shares her love of animals and has pets or would be open to owning them in the future.

She also enjoys spending time with people and volunteering. She does well in school and especially likes math and art classes. She enjoys painting and working with paper mache.

Ashley has had many losses in her life. She will need more time to transition to a home in order for her to trust a family and feel safe. “I want a family that will love me for who I am, not for what I do,” she says.

Michael

Michael, born in 1993, is a shy, quiet and good-natured 14-year-old boy. He enjoys playing video and computer games, cooking or helping out in the kitchen, riding all-terrain vehicles, riding his bike and trying new things. He recently surprised himself, and his foster parents, by pushing himself beyond his comfort level and flying on a plane as part of a family vacation, and by volunteering to be on the technical committee for a school play.

Michael has been involved with the ITeam, a computer-based after-school group that meets once a week. He also enjoys helping with sets, lighting and being part of the behind-the-scenes stage crew in the school theater.

He hopes to be adopted by a family that enjoys riding four-wheelers and snow mobiles.

Ashley and Michael are two of 152 children currently in the Maine Department of Health & Human Service’s care who are seeking adoption. 111 of those children have been waiting for permanency for more than a year.

Based in Gardiner, A Family for ME is a nonprofit that works with Maine DHHS to find foster and adoptive families. For more information, call toll-free 1-877-505-0545 or visit www.AFamilyForMe.org and see the Heart Gallery of photographs of children seeking adoption, taken by Chuck Pelletier Images of Lewiston.

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