Editor’s Note: This story is a continuation of a story from Aug. 27. The name of the child in the story also has been changed for confidentiality.

THOMASVILLE — Two weeks ago, one suitcase out of 250 was unpacked. 

An Open Door adoption agency placed a child from the “Suitcase Movement” into a forever home two weeks ago — the first official placement of the program. 

Jackson has been in foster care for two years. His mother’s rights were terminated. 

At just 6 years old, Jackson was neglected for four years, An Open Door’s director of domestic adoptions Jane Gilbert said. 

Along with a traumatic upbringing, Jackson was developmentally delayed. Currently, Jackson is mentally on track, Gilbert said. 

With Christmas rapidly approaching, Gilbert said Jackson was asked what he wanted for Christmas. 

His answer: “All I want is a mom and daddy.”

The process for Jackson’s placement took about two months. In the two-month span, a home study was conducted within the first month. 

Currently, there are eight active families awaiting to adopt through the program.  

To fund the “Suitcase” program, an endowment campaign began in February 2014. According to Gilbert, over $500,000 has been raised for the first phase of the endowment. The overall goal is $2 million. 

The campaign has four purposes, which include: foster program development, adoptive family scholarships, establishing new foreign programs and birth mom assistance for certain expenses. 

In Georgia, there are over 13,000 children in Department of Family and Children Services’ (DFCS) custody, with 2,700 with the potential of being adopted. Currently, there are 250 children who can legally be adopted any given day, according to Gilbert.  

For more information, contact Gilbert or domestic adoption assistant Karen Clendenin at jane@opendooradoption.org or kclendenin@opendooradoption.org. An Open Door Adoption Agency can be reached at (229) 228-6339.  

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.