By HEATHER RUPPE
A Round O family is being recognized for adopting children and taking them out of the foster system.
Melissa and Greg Wiggins have been named the 2021 Lowcountry Adoptions Family of the Year. The Wiggins family has adopted eight children this year and they have one foster child, which are they are preparing to adopt. These children range in age from four to 17.
“The Wiggins have a genuine desire to help foster children, along with serving as a support to birth parents,” said Danielle Jones, with the S.C. Department of Social Services.
This family was recognized from the Lowcountry region: there are four regions in South Carolina that can each nominate a family for this award.
After learning of the award, Melissa said she and her husband started fostering children five years ago. Within the last year, the couple has fostered more than 30 children.
Melissa says they started fostering children because it was a childhood dream of hers. “I’m a nurse, so I’m a natural nurturer,” she said. “We are honored we were chosen for this.”
When asked what led to their decisions to adopt eight children this year, Melissa said she and her husband fell in love with the children and wanted to bring them permanently into their home.
“We are a blended family of four … these children became a part of that family, too,” she said.
The Wiggins family was honored by DSS on Sunday with a parade in front of their house. The parade featured officials from the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, Colleton County Fire-Rescue, friends and family members and officials from adoption agencies.
According to Jones, there are currently 40 children in foster care in Colleton County.
