The World Association for Children and Parents is hosting an open house and international bazaar at their center in Renton on Saturday, July 23.

The function will be 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 315 S. Second St. and all proceeds will support WACAP’s Family Finders program, which helps find families for children with special needs.

The World Association for Children and Parents is a non-profit adoption agency with a mission to provide life changing aid and adoption services to orphans and other children who need families.

In spite of the economic downturn people are still adopting, said Mary Duncan, vice president of fund development for WACAP.

“They’re looking at what’s most important in their lives,” she said.

Even after Sept. 11 the organization still saw a steady stream of people choosing their adoption services.

There are more than 100,000 kids who are waiting in the United States and internationally for families, she said.

Tens of thousands of those children are older or have special needs.

In the last 12 months the center, which is headquartered in Renton, but works across the country, has placed 242 children into adoptive families.

“There still are kids in need and there are still adoptive parents who are willing to open their hearts and their homes to these kids,” said Duncan.

Changes in the number of children up for adoption are not necessarily linked to the economy, she said. Adoption can change depending on what’s going on in a particular country.

WACAP has a 35-year history of finding homes for children, especially older.

Items at the bazaar on Saturday come from around the world or are internationally themed like a doll from Bulgaria or lanterns from India and China.

Coffee and lemonade will be available and visitors can tour the facilities.