The Ebola epidemic has put adoptions in affected West African countries on hold, indefinitely.

As adoptive families wait, aid organizations are seeking emergency funding to care for those orphans — and many more that have lost parents to Ebola.

Aid workers estimate that there are about 7,000 of these Ebola orphans in West Africa.

Patricia Anglin, founder of a Liberian organization called Acres of Hope that serves orphans, is in the Midwest trying to raise awareness and funds.

"Long after Ebola is even eradicated, we will have the devastation and challenges left behind of these orphans who need to be cared for," Anglin says.

The State Department says the focus should be on reuniting children with other family. But Anglin says that's been difficult because of Ebola fear.