A black couple in Ohio went ahead and adopted six siblings this week in an effort to keep the family together.
Christopher and Christina Sanders already have five biological children of their own, but felt that it was their duty to help keep the family of their foster kids together.
The couple received four brothers —their first foster placement— in 2014. When they admitted to missing their siblings, the Sanders family decided to take in the boys’ two sisters.
“This whole experience has been so rewarding for us because taking care of the kids and caring for the kids through these past couple years, we got so close to them and developed such tremendous love for these children,” Christopher Sanders told ABC News. “There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for these children. We just want the best for them. We felt like we had to do whatever we thought we could do to help.”
Now Caleb, Coby, Christian, Caylee, Carson and Chloe, all between the ages of 9 and 16, can officially call the Sanders their family.
“We were having a rough life (before),” 13-year-old Caleb told the judge in Ohio’s Hamilton County Adoption Court.
The family has already launched a GoFundMe page to help raise money to buy a 15-person van. They surpassed their goal of $35,000, having now raised over $54,000 in eight days.
“I honestly cannot express how grateful we are to all of our donors,” the family said on their GoFundMe page. “Whether you gave heartfelt words of encouragement or opened your hearts to us financially, we truly appreciate all of your support.”
