By Susan Misur, Register Correspondent

MILFORD — As a 7-year-old foster child in Massachusetts, Chris once spent the weekend with his brother and potential new parents, swimming and getting to know the two Hamden residents he would soon call Mom and Dad.

Unsure of what his future held when he returned to his foster home — a home separate from his brother — he “bawled his eyes out,” recalls Kathy, now his adoptive mother.

“Chris couldn’t bear to leave his brother, it was so heartbreaking. And they were charming and cute. I pretty much right away knew what I wanted to do,” said Kathy, whose last name is being withheld to protect her children’s privacy.

So, after that weekend four years ago, Kathy and her husband set out to adopt the two boys through Lutheran Social Services of New England, an organization assisting children, families, the elderly, immigrants and the disabled.

A fundraising event will be held Saturday to benefit the LSS Post Adoption Resource Center that offers families like Kathy’s workshops for adoptive parents and children. Organized by Milford resident and Broadway actress Kristin Huffman, the “Ya Gotta Have Heart” musical performance benefit will be held at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 450 Whitney Ave., New Haven.

All proceeds from ticket and raffle sales will benefit LSS post-adoption programs that discuss topics that include multicultural family issues, contact with biological families after a child is adopted, and identity development. Any adoptive family or adopted child can attend the sessions, whether they have already worked with LSS or not.

“Sometimes they just need other adoptive families to kind of brainstorm and problem solve,” said Lynn Gabbard, director of adoption services and an adoptive parent of seven children.

Kathy said she has called upon LSS for advice on multiple occasions since adopting her two boys, who are now 14 and 10.

“There was a lot of stuff we called on LSS to help us with,” Kathy said, explaining her sons have anxiety before holidays and when the school year ends. “When we went to the programs and heard adopted parents talk about their experiences, we could ask questions and it was great because you feel like, ‘Oh, it’s not just us.’”

Proceeds from Saturday’s event also will help fund a mentoring program, in which LSS pairs up adults and younger adoptees.

“I think they’re great,” Huffman said of LSS’ services. “And right now, there are a lot of children needing adopting, and it’s important that they help families afterward.”

Huffman has recruited singing waiters and waitresses along with 13 professional actresses to sing Broadway and Disney songs in a 90-minute family-friendly show. The performance includes actresses from Broadway shows “Sweeney Todd,” “Phantom of the Opera” and “Company.”

Doors at the church open at 5 p.m. Tickets bought in advance cost $15 per adult and $5 per child; at the door, tickets cost $20 per adult and $8 per child. To purchase tickets, e-mail lgabbard@lssne.org, or call (800) 286-9889.