A mother of six, it would be easy for everyone to see that Christie Erwin has a heart for kids.

But when you look a little closer, it’s impossible to miss it. Christie and her husband, Jeff, spent more than 20 years as foster parents, welcoming more than 50 kids into their home. They even adopted two of the children.

Christie’s passion for kids does not stop in her home. She’s also the executive director of Project Zero. She became involved about eight years ago as the co-chair of the Pulaski County Adoption Coalition. Quickly, she took on the responsibility of chair and realized more needed to be done. While at a workshop, Christie heard a pastor say the number of children in foster care and waiting to be adopted should be zero. Those words stuck with her, and it was her husband that suggested a name change.

In 2011, the Pulaski County Adoption Coalition officially became Project Zero, and since then, the efforts to help those in foster care, waiting to be adopted has been ramped up, Christie says.

“We have one goal: zero waiting kids,” she says. “Everything revolves around that.”

In Arkansas, Christie says around 500 kids are waiting to be adopted. “People are shocked to learn that,” she says.

To help curb that number, Project Zero focuses on raising awareness through the Heart Gallery, a traveling photo exhibit that highlights the smiling young faces of children in Arkansas who are waiting to be adopted. The Heart Gallery Gala, in November, is one of Project Zero’s bigger events of the year.

Project Zero also hosts monthly events, which includes visiting various sporting events and participating in other activities to build hope for waiting kids. Some of those monthly events have even helped bring families together with foster children. At an event in January, 14 girls went with 14 women to shop at the mall. Since then, one of the women has adopted the girl she was paired with that day.

To further connect families, Project Zero meets with prospective families one-on-one to answer questions and help match families and children.

Christie has always had a heart for kids, and it doesn’t appear to be fading in the least.

“People don’t realize the struggle and stories that kids have gone through, through no fault of their own,” she says. “Parental rights are terminated all the time, and kids are left with no one, no permanency, no foundation to give and receive love, and function in life.”

Christie continues to feel a responsibility to do what she does every day.

“I feel a responsibility for helping to find the right family [for kids],” she says. “Not just any family, but the right family.”