How These Millennials Are Bypassing Federal Regulations to Help Children

Samantha Reinis /

A temporary home can become a child’s forever family.

Together We Rise is a non-profit on a mission to help children in the foster care system by supplying them with essentials and promoting adoption through the system.

The organization was founded by college students in 2008 after they were denied by multiple government agencies from helping foster children since they were under 21 years old, due to federal regulations.

The students decided to form their own non-profit instead to address the need they saw in their own southern California community.

Together We Rise provides personalized duffel bags stuffed with goodies, including blankets and teddy bears for the children. Since many foster children are only given a trash bag to transport their few belongings, a duffel bag can become a great comfort to those in foster care.

The non-profit also recognizes children who have recently been adopted by their foster family in order to promote adoption through the system and showcase the happy families.

Below are 17 children and families whose lives have become a testament to the power of fostering a child and adopting them as their own.

Kids deserve more than a trash bag when they move from home to home. Thank you to everyone who has allowed us to provide…

Posted by Together We Rise on Tuesday, July 7, 2015

So many children in Foster Care will get Personalized duffel bags, teddy bears, blankets etc.. this week thanks to our…

Posted by Together We Rise on Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Children deserve more than a trash bag to move from home to home when they enter foster care. We created a way where you…

Posted by Together We Rise on Sunday, May 17, 2015

After 1,090 days in foster care, these siblings have finally been adopted TOGETHER <3 Learn more about the 100,000 kids in foster care here: bit.ly/fostertoadopt

Posted by Together We Rise on Thursday, July 23, 2015

OMG <3 Now they have their FOREVER FAMILY

Posted by Together We Rise on Sunday, March 22, 2015

You are never to old to be adopted from Foster Care <3 CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY!

Posted by Together We Rise on Thursday, June 25, 2015

“It has been a long journey, but she is out of foster care and now our daughter…4 months before her 18th birthday!…

Posted by Together We Rise on Sunday, May 24, 2015

The Rychman Family adopted all four kids from foster care. Family is more than blood <3 #inspiring #adoption #fostercare

Posted by Together We Rise on Saturday, July 11, 2015

They adopted the entire sibling group to keep them TOGETHER <3Congratulations to this beautiful family ! #adoption #fostercare

Posted by Together We Rise on Sunday, June 28, 2015

This weekend she found her FOREVER FAMILY <3 ! Congrats to the Holly Family! #ADOPTIONisFREE #fostercare bit.ly/fostertoadopt

Posted by Together We Rise on Monday, June 22, 2015

Yes!!!!! Diesel just got Adopted! <3 #fostercare #AdoptionisFREEbit.ly/fostertoadopt

Posted by Together We Rise on Thursday, June 11, 2015

After 1,437 days in foster care she has been officially adopted by her new FOREVER FAMILY <3 Isn’t she precious!! Best part is Adoption thru foster care is Free!! bit.ly/fostertoadopt

Posted by Together We Rise on Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Today was a good day. She has been adopted by her FOREVER FAMILY <3 #adoption #fostercare #ADOPTIONisFREE

Posted by Together We Rise on Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Officially introducing (after 969 days in foster care ) for the first time.. Miss Erin Rose Harris! She is and will be FOREVER a part of our family <3 #HappyMothersDay #Adoption #fostercare

Posted by Together We Rise on Sunday, May 10, 2015

THIS JUST IN: After 701 days in foster care, this precious soul is now with her FOREVER FAMILY #adoption #fostercare

Posted by Together We Rise on Thursday, May 7, 2015

Today is a good day <3 Congrats! #fostercare #adoption

Posted by Together We Rise on Tuesday, May 5, 2015

For National Super Hero Day, this family celebrated the adoption of these 3 siblings as Superman since he was adopted too <3

Posted by Together We Rise on Wednesday, April 29, 2015

This is NOT an April Fools joke, THEY JUST FOUND THEIR FOREVER FAMILY WOOT WOOT <3 !!It’s not expensive, it’s not easy, but it’s worth it #fostercare

Posted by Together We Rise on Wednesday, April 1, 2015

He was raised by nurses in a Hospital until he was four years old. But yesterday, he found his Forever Family, siblings, and a place to call home <3#NationalAdoptionDay #ForeverFamily #adopted

Posted by Together We Rise on Saturday, November 22, 2014