Hi. My name is Larissa and I'm fundraising for a wonderful family that I've had the pleasure of knowing for over 20 years. Kali and Dustin Rawlings have 5 kids between them. Their youngest daughter was adopted 8 years ago when she was 6 months old. Her biological sibling was born shortly after and went right to the Rawlings' home and stayed with them for almost a year before being returned to the birth mom. Since then, the birth mother has had four more children. Unfortunately, early in 2021 the state executed a removal of these children, all aging between 4 months and 8 years old. Not wanting the young children to be separated, the Rawlings opened their home, expecting the same support from the state they had received before.

Weeks after the 5 young kids went to live with Kali and Dustin and their own 5 kids, division representatives and case workers explained there would be no support from the state. The Rawlings' should have qualified for a grant called the Specified Relative Grant, but because they had previously adopted a biologicals sibling of these 5 kids, they won't be getting the grant. The advice they got was to apply for state services on behalf of the 5 young kids.

The Rawlings' application was denied. They were told they made too much money and had too much money in savings. However, since taking custody of the children, Kali and Dustin had to modify their home to meet state standards, buy a vehicle that could transport all of the children, purchase beds, clothes, diapers, bottles, car seats, cribs, and other supplies. This used up more than all of the Rawlings' savings, including the accounts they had set up for their own children's college tuition, and maxed out all of their credit ($40,000 worth). In addition, Dustin had to stop working in order to care for the children since they didn't qualify for childcare assistance from the state and daycare costs exceeded $3,000 per month. They have been using every resource available to care for the children and have been dependent on food and monetary donations to feed and diaper the children.

Kali, an Army Reserve veteran, is reapplying for assistance in the hopes she can just feed her family. Not even recover their losses. Our goal is to raise $30,000 to provide daycare services for the 5 young kids for around 10 months. This will enable Dustin to go back to work. Kali has also said that if they are returned to their birth mother after one year, any and all funding left from this effort will go a savings account and be given to the 5 young children when they turn 18.

The Rawlings have fallen through the cracks in our system. Our hope is help them keep their heads above water while they give they kids a safe home for as long as they can.