Hearts Without Homes: Ricky 1/14/13

There are hundreds of children in our area who are waiting to be adopted.

Their dream is a family.

Do you want to make a difference?

Mike Holden has this month's Hearts Without Homes child.

((Take pkg))

Meet Ricky. He's a self described sports fanatic, who loves watching the Big Bang Theory, drawing pictures and writing poems.

He says he has a passion for helping others, and he can make good out of any bad situation.

Ricky, Hearts Without Homes, said: "Energized. I like having fun, and I'm always happy. I'm not a mad person."

Thanks to the folks at Ice Center of Erie, Ricky and I got to do one of my favorite activities, ice skating. I have played hockey since I was 4-years-old. So I figured I could show Ricky the ropes.

Ricky had a couple of wipeouts, but he faired pretty well for hitting the ice for the first time.

Ricky: "It made me free. It was different. I got used to it."

Ricky is a math enthusiast. He says he would like to go to college and be a doctor or mechanic, either or, because he says both involve helping people.

Ricky: "I like to help out people. Help people who need it. I like being nice to people."

Ricky entered the system nearly 10 years ago. He has since lived in 27 different places and tells me he wants stability.

Ricky: "Very hard because I didn't get to do things and alone most of the time."

But he is ready to move forward and is optimistic about what the future holds, dreaming of a life with the perfect family.

Ricky now lives in a group home.

If you want to open your heart, contact Family Services of North Western Pennsylvania at 814- 866- 4500.