The smiling faces in the photos on the walls at the Union County Art Center are those of children without a permanent place to call home.

The South Carolina “Heart Gallery” is a unique way to connect them with potential adoptive parents.

“It’s a simple way to educate the public about foster care,” Millie Qualls, program coordinator for the Heart Gallery and a member of the Children’s Foster Care Review Board, said Thursday. “We want to help find families for older children who have been waiting longer.”

The Heart Gallery began in New Mexico in 2001 and quickly spread to 48 states across the country. South Carolina’s first Heart Gallery was held in 2005. Photographers donate their services to provide portraits of the children, which are displayed at public venues around the state.

“It helps combat the idea of children in foster care facing problems and disabilities,” Ms. Qualls said. “You look at the pictures and just see beautiful children.”

Four to six photo shoots of foster children are held each year. The photos on display at the art center are mostly of children in the Florence area.

“If everyone in the state gets to see these pictures, hopefully someone will respond,” Ms. Qualls said. “We will then put them in touch with the local agency to start the adoption process.”

Union’s Heart Gallery will be on display throughout May.

“May is Foster Care Month and we couldn’t promote one without the other — adoption and foster families — with the great need we have for both,” said Amy Austin of the Union County Foster Parent Association.

Framed art created by Union County foster children is also on display at the art center.