Hunter, 3, and Harper, 2, are thriving in the care of their loving parents.

Hunter loves his school friends, his teacher, playing outside, learning how to swim and more.

“We’re so proud of him for what he’s accomplished,” mom Lauren says.

Trey, their dad, adds, “And Harper’s right behind him…Everything big brother’s doing — she’s like I’m ready to do that.”

Hunter and Harper have flourished since coming into Trey and Lauren’s home two years ago.

It was a Tuesday evening after 9pm when the siblings arrived. Hunter was 14 months old and in need of a bath and loving care. He arrived with “only the clothes he had on his back.” Harper was only 2 days old, barely 5 pounds and had just been released from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Since then, Hunter and Harper have been adopted by Lauren and Trey.

“They haven’t missed [a milestone] yet,” says Lauren, proudly. “They’re just doing so good.”

Hunter was a 2025 Kinder’s Texas Bowl Kickoff Kid. The whole family made unforgettable memories together at the Texas Bowl game and cheering the University of Houston to victory.

When referencing the support of DePelchin, Lauren says, “It’s life changing. I think it’s amazing what everybody does — volunteering, donating. You help a lot of kids.”

Together, 6-year-old Zaayden and his parents enjoy traveling, watching movies, playing putt-putt golf, swimming at the beach and more.

Zaayden loves being active through basketball, soccer, mixed martial arts and anything else that catches his eye.

“Every time a new sport comes on the TV, [Zaayden] is just like ‘I need to do that. I want to do that,” his mom, Amanda, says with a laugh.

Not much is known about Zaayden’s life before he came into Tony and Amanda’s home. At only four years old, he was surrendered to a temporary facility. Then, he spent a year and a half with Tony and Amanda as his foster family.

“[Zaayden] kept asking ‘can I stay here forever and ever?’” Tony shares.

Tony explained he didn’t want to promise anything he couldn’t guarantee, but in July 2024, Zaayden, Tony and Amanda became a forever family through adoption.

Once the family received the judge’s decree, Tony said, “Now you can [stay with us forever] bud.”

To donors like you, Tony says, “keep up the good work. It’s a very needed and valued service… and we’re very appreciative.”

After school, 7-year-old Kamaldeen likes to sit and play with his toys, and often, he wants his mom, Adetokunbo, to join him.

“We play with the toys, use the remote to make the car run around the house,” Adetokunbo says. “He’s been so happy and excited about it.”

But things weren’t always so simple. When Kamaldeen was only a few months old, the pair traveled to Adetokunbo’s home country of Nigeria, where doctors found three holes in Kamaldeen’s heart. They returned to the U.S. for his surgery, which was successful.

“My heart[‘s] desire, my wish for him was [to be] okay,” shares Adetokunbo.

Parenting without the support of family brought on significant challenges. That’s when Adetokunbo was referred to DePelchin’s Family Resource Center. DePelchin staff provided a school uniform, shoes, a bed railing, a bicycle and many toys for Kamaldeen.

“He got everything [he needed]…I cried,” Adetokunbo says. “I did not believe he was ever going to get those things.”

Adetokunbo also received free counseling through DePelchin and was connected with a partner agency who helped provide the financial assistance to help pay her electric bill.

“[DePelchin] actually blessed my life,” Adetokunbo shares. “I’m super, super grateful for every single help I receive from there.”

Teri and her grandkids, Terynce, 11, and Ta’Nia, 13, can often be found playing family games together at their kitchen table.

“When I think of Ta’Nia I just think of the sweetest thing I’ve ever met and Terynce is like the smartest young man I have ever met,” Teri shares with pride.

When Teri adopted Terynce, she already had custody of his sister Ta’Nia. Homelessness and drug use by his mother led to Terynce being removed from her care.

The first few days they spent just the three of them, Teri remembers, “we were really happy to be together.”

Then, challenges arose for Teri as the reality of the financial burden and more began to set in.

“[Life] was pretty chaotic,” Teri shares, “I felt lost. I felt like no one understood. I was really searching for…an organization that could help me…be successful with my grandchildren.”

That’s what Teri found through DePelchin’s Kinship Care program — “love, grace, understanding, a listening ear.” Kinship caregivers provide a way for kids to stay with family when they cannot live with their birth parents.

Terynce was chosen as a 2025 Texas Bowl Kickoff Kid. They all enjoyed meeting players, experiencing on-field activities, and watching an exciting game as the ambassador family to LSU.

“Without your donations and time…to help grandparents, like myself, we would not be able to see this thing through,” Teri says.

Thank you for providing the mental, emotional and financial resources that caregivers like Teri need to succeed.