BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Friday was a big day for Chari Grace.
Two-year-old Chari Grace found a forever family in the Castranova's of Williamsville, who made it official during a family court hearing with Judge Sharon LoVallo.
"Loves life, loves people,” said dad Darrick Castronova. “Loves her big brothers and sister. Loves her doll, and loves dirt and mud!"
Chari has lived in the Castronova home since she was just two-days-old. Darrick and Mom Jodi decided to try fostering as a way to help get Chari back to her biological mother. When they realized it wasn't a possibility, thoughts turned to adoption. The pair also have two biological children -- Sam and Savannah -- and adopted son Isaac from Haiti several years ago.
"They have embraced her and loved her and she truly is our own. There's nothing like it,” Jodi said.
"We're all a bunch a goofballs,” Sam said. “She might be the most goofy one, but she makes us laugh so much, it's awesome."
Child and Family Services Case Planner Renee Johnson said this was her first adoption and admittedly got teary-eyed seeing it finally happen.
"So grateful for Chari to have this opportunity,” Johnson said. “If you look at her and see how excited she is, how attached and bonded she is it was definitely a good thing for her."
Happy tears aside, Johnson explained cases like Chari's highlight the dire need for more foster families. In 2015 there were 884 children in foster care in Erie County.
"The courts are doing a great job, but it's not the courts job to raise families and make these decisions. Families are designed by God to love the best they can and when they're broken then obviously people step in,” Darrick said.
"Just take the first step and go to the foster classes,” said Jodi. “You see the need and desperation. These are children who need love. I believe most everyone has the capacity to do that."
And while Chari has been with them since the beginning, Jodi and Darrick said they couldn't be happier that she is now truly a Castronova.