AUSTIN, Texas — Entering into foster care can be a confusing and frightening experience for a young child, but having a familiar face by your side always adds a little bit of comfort.
Benjamin is 7 and Rhyker is 4. The brothers have been in foster care together for around two years. They currently live in a foster home while they wait to find their forever family. They go to the same school and sometimes even see each other throughout their school day.
"I'll see him while I'm walking out from lunch!" Benjamin said.
Their special bond is why it's so important they get adopted together.
Benjamin enjoys learning math and going to recess. He likes focusing on different tasks.
KVUE's Hannah Rucker met up with the brothers at Indigo Play near Cedar Park. Benjamin used large Legos to carefully build himself a big house. He played pretend and built different bedrooms.
PHOTOS | Forever Families: Benjamin and Rhyker
The two boys also love trains and building tracks together.
"We saw a train on the way here!" Benjamin said.
Rhyker is a social butterfly with a ton of energy. He loves running around and making fun noises to show his excitement. He enjoys different foods and pretending to serve food to people.
Benjamin is eager to find a family.
"Sisters and a mom and a dad. And a brother," Benjamin said, describing his ideal family.
To learn more about Benjamin and Rhyker or to put in an inquiry to adopt them, visit their page on the Heart Gallery of Central Texas.
KVUE launched the Forever Families segment with Partnerships for Children (PFC) in June 2020 to highlight children in the Heart Gallery of Central Texas who need secure and permanent families. Every day, there are nearly 1,000 children waiting to get adopted in Central Texas, according to PFC.
Editor's note: The children who are in the Heart Gallery program and featured in KVUE's Forever Families segments are children who have had every effort made on their behalf to connect them with family or others in their community to provide options for permanent, adoptive homes. Through no fault of their own, that hasn’t happened yet, and so in partnership with the Department of Family and Protective Services, we collaborate to bring awareness to KVUE viewers about these children in the hopes of finding them permanency before they age out.