A rally in Florence County remembered the 5,400 children in South Carolina who remain in foster homes and celebrated those who have been adopted.

The Florence County Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem program hosted the event attended by more than 100 people.

On the steps of the Florence City County Complex Thursday morning, you could hear soft music and see cardboard cutouts representing children -- 104 children who are abused and neglected children in South Carolina and become a part of the family court system every week.

Many of them are in foster homes waiting to be adopted.

Kelly Merchant is a foster parent who has adopted three children.

She said, "Once we knew that they were going to be up for adoption then no, I didn't want no one else to have them."

Volunteers with the Guardian Ad Litem program in Florence County hope the rally will bring awareness to the foster care system and adoption in South Carolina.

Sadly, many kids in foster homes can't go back home to their biological parents because their parents have lost all rights to them. As the children go through the court system, it's the Guardian Ad Litem program that helps find safe and loving homes for them until they're adopted.

Maeo Brigman is with the program.

"Anytime I can help a young person, I feel like I've done a great deal," said Brigman.

Willie Skinner is a volunteer guardian.

"The way the world is going today, they need somebody out there to show them that they really care about them that someone is out there for them," he said.

Speakers praised the guardians for their efforts but focused on the hundreds of kids in the state who are waiting to be adopted.

Last year, about 515 kids in South Carolina were adopted through the Department of Social Services.

DSS officials say it's free to adopt a child through the agency and in some cases they will even help out with attorney fees.