Founded in 2013, Photo Safe is an all volunteer non-profit whose mission is to capture and preserve photographs of children in foster care with the sole purpose of creating a historic record for the personal use of the child. All of us need to know our origins in order to construct a healthy narrative about who we are. Photos help us create, remember and share our life stories. They also provide security, and fill us with memories and meaning that calm us in unpredictable times. In New York City alone, there are approximately 12,000 children in foster care who, because of their circumstances, miss out on the benefits of pictures and photography. They have virtually no photos of their family and friends that would provide them comfort through their personal chaos, nor can they offer current images of themselves to those who matter most to them. As these kids grow and mature, their changing appearance goes undocumented, and major milestones pass without a permanent record. The physical history of their lives and the people significant to them is lost. The Photo Safe mission is to “stop moments from running away,” to create a historic record where one does not exist, and to help fill an emotional and psychological gap that these children experience today.
