Lamont Thomas lives in Buffalo, New York. He has always worked to improve the lives of children in need. For the past 19 years he has taken in dozens of foster kids. The single father of seven, adopted five siblings and can now proudly say he is a father of 12.

It all began in the year 2000 when just to help his friends who were in need sparked Lamont’s passion for helping kids. Lamont notes: “In the beginning, I was helping out some friends. They had lost their child to the system; I went on and got certified and became a foster parent. I haven’t stopped since.”

Since the year 2000 Lamont has adopted five kids in addition to his two biological children and has fostered more than 30 children. He first adopted twins in the year 2007. He even adopted the first child he ever fostered, Michael.

“He was my third foster home and it ended up being my forever home,” 27-year-old Michael Thomas recalled. “He [knew] my biological parents.” “Lamont never turned [a child] away,” Michael continued. “They either aged out or went back home to their own families.

Lamont thought that Michael would be his last adoption but he recently came out of ‘the retirement’ for a special case. Some of the Lamont’s children had started families of their own and when he found out about a new group of siblings who needed his help, he decided to come out of ‘his retirement’ and adopt all five of them. The children — Zendaya, 5, Jamel, 4, Nakia, 3, Major, 2 and Michaela, 1 — were the children of one of Lamont’s former foster kids.

The kids ended up being taken into care — I believe it was due to neglect,” Lamont shared. “They had them in four different homes, four different cities. They were separated for over a year-and-a-half.” Lamont fostered the children for two years. Sharing his experience, “I was fighting to keep back the tears,” he said of his adoption day with Judge Lisa Rodwin. “Every day I think about it, my eyes swell up. All that we endured to make this happen, it was something.”

“They bring new energy to me,” Lamont shared. “They’re lovable kids, very affectionate. They deserve to be raised as siblings, and that was my fight.” LaMonica, Lamont’s daughter noted: “It’s amazing he’s taking on all of them, He does anything for everybody. He’s a really a great man.”

Michael comments: “We’re all grown now. I can’t believe he’s started all over again, Lamont has been a life-saver to me. I wouldn’t be the person that I am today, had Lamont not ventured in my life.” Concluding Lamont shared: “I wanted to make a difference by being a difference and I love what I do.” Hope Lamont continues to make everyone’s’ lives around him better.

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