Spring Hill, Florida -- Bob and Lori Mitchell are foster parents to eight children right now. Many of them are siblings.
Bob says, "Our goal is to show them a traditional family, a loving environment and hopefully even if they don't experience that at home, that when they grow up and become a parent they will recall those memories and they will know how to raise their own children."
Bob and Lori already have three grown children and felt they still had more to offer as parents. Their three adult children still live at home but then again they have a large home with seven bedrooms.
Once they started fostering they kept making room for more. They have always had a special place in their heart for siblings who want to stay together.
It was their own daughter, Amanda, who talked them into fostering. Amanda has two older brothers and says she always wanted a sister. She said seeing how great her parents were with their own kids she knew they would make great foster parents.
Amanda explains that, "To be able to have my parents love other kids is just a blessing to me and to be able to grow up and know your parents are loving and can see other kids and love them as well as me."
Bob and Lori say over the years they have fostered hundreds of children. Lori says the foster kids aren't the only ones who get something special out of the relationship.
"It's the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life and it's the most rewarding thing I have done for my family."
If you would like to learn more about becoming a foster parent call Eckerd Community Alternatives of Pinellas and Pasco Foster Parent Recruitment line at 1-866-233-0790.