Visalia families sell fireworks to raise money for adoptions

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Three Visalia families are hoping the July 4th holiday will get them closer to meeting their children.

Last minute shoppers headed to the fireworks booth on Noble Avenue and Ben Maddox in the Walmart parking lot to help kick off the July 4th holiday with a sparkle and boom. For Brent Stahl, this fireworks fundraiser could be the final step towards meeting his new children. He and two other couples are raising money to finish the adoption process for children in Haiti and China.

"I didn't think I had enough money, didn't have enough time energy or resources to do it. But really all these children could care less about these things all they want is for someone to love them, and I said I have that," said Brent Stahl of Visalia.

Brent and his wife already know they're bringing home 7-year-old twins, but the other couples are waiting any day now to find out who their child will be. Amber Kanallakan is hoping to adopt a special needs child from China. "My husband is a prosthetist and orthetist here in town at Valley Orthopedic and builds legs and arms for amputees, and so we're specifically pursuing the adoption of a child missing a leg or an arm."

Kanallakan says the adoption process can be daunting and expensive. Together, she hopes the fireworks booth will raise enough money to help them pay for plane tickets, visas, and other immigration costs. "We're hoping to sell out today. We want to clear the fireworks booth and make lots of money so we can go get our kids."

The adoption fundraiser is determined to stay open until all fireworks are sold. They'll be open until at least 10 p.m. Friday. Parents hoping the sparklers they sell will help them bring new light into their homes.