GENEVA — The mountain of mismatched socks at the Santiago house is an ongoing job.

With eight children in the house and 10 loads of laundry to do every day, Tami Santiago has all but given up in the war against mismatched socks.

“Occasionally we sit down and match them up, but that is just winning the battle, not the war,” she said.

Tami and James Santiago are unfazed by the numbers of their household: $1,200 to $1,400 per month in groceries, 10 gallons of milk a week, countless boxes of cereal, eight bunk beds to make, endless trips to soccer practice and at least six science projects due in the next week.

The Santiago’s have adopted nine children and fostered more than 90 since 1991, opening their home to children who otherwise would have no place to go.

“It is hard to say no when (Ashtabula County) Children’s Services calls,” Tami said. “All you can think about is where that child is going to rest its head tonight.”

Nineteen years ago Tami was running a home daycare service, but was feeling like she could do more for area children.

“There was no talking about taking in foster children,” she said. “No talking, just doing.”

James was no stranger to the foster care system, as his mother took in special needs foster children when he was young.

“We took in two children right away, so we immediately doubled our household in one day,” he said. “It has been that way ever since.”

Tami said the state limits foster homes to 10 children under the age of 18.

“It is a good thing they have that cap, because it is very difficult for me to turn a child away,” she said.

In hushed voices, James and Tami talk about the heartbreak of the children’s services system.

“We had a girl who was with us for three years,” James said. “She went home to her mother on a courtroom technicality. It broke our hearts. She just fit here. We talked about not taking in any more children after that.”

Tami said after a vacation, the family came home with a renewed sense of purpose.

“The joy and love outweighs the heartbreak and tears,” Tami said.

Children of all ages filled the two couches in the Santiago’s living room Wednesday evening, watching the Disney Channel together after a long, exiting day at school.

“Today was report card day, so there was a lot going on,” Tami said. “It usually isn’t this quiet in this house.”

Tami is a stay-at-home mom, James is a car salesman with Great Lakes Chevrolet and Buick in Jefferson.

“This was a tight year,” James said. “Christmas almost didn’t happen, but our church family at Christ Episcopal Church really came through for us.”

“We are always the ‘doers,’ the people who give,” Tami said. “It was different and humbling to be on the receiving end this year.”

In all, 2009 was a big year for the Santiago family, as James was named the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in December.

James said the award meant more to him than most people know.

“My dad died when I was 6 years old,” he said. “My mom worked and I really grew up on the streets. I was in and out of trouble. All my life I was told I would be nothing.”

“To have the people who are older than me and knew me then recognize me was so amazing. I still can’t believe it,” he said.

James is the president of the Foster Parent Association and serves on a panel as an advocate to help change laws for foster children. He is a Den Leader and Cub Master for Tiger Cub Pack 58, Boy Scout support member for troops 57 and 750, and is a member of the Geneva Rotary. He is also a bell ringer for the Salvation Army’s holiday fundraising.

Though there is little peace and quiet in the Santiago home, James and Tami said they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“When we look back at the children we have helped and the ones we have adopted, we can’t imagine life any other way,” James said.

“Then we look forward and know that every day could bring another child into our lives,” Tami said. “The need is always there and our door is always open.”