Onondaga and Oswego Counties celebrated National Adoption Day today and Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) expressed his support for this worthwhile cause. National Adoption Day raises awareness of the over 100,000 children in foster care seeking permanent, loving families, and Barclay has participated in the event over the past several years by donating a New York State flag to a new adoptive family.

“National Adoption Day is a great way to celebrate and call attention to a worthy cause,” said Barclay. “All children deserve a healthy, happy home and a loving family, and this event helps to shine a light on those who are in need of or recently received this opportunity. Last year’s event in Syracuse drew a crowd of over 600 people who witnessed 80 new adoptions.

“I congratulate all the new families taking part in today’s event and wish them nothing but the best.”

This year’s celebration was held at the OnCenter in Syracuse. The event included an adoption fair, and agencies from Central New York were on hand to provide information to prospective adoptive and foster families. A local Sheriff's Department also made new ID cards for all of the children attending and a local photographer volunteered her time, taking the first family portraits of the newly-adoptive families.

For more information on National Adoption Day and adoption in general, please visit http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/.