Help needed with South Carolina laws

Hello to the group. I need some information regarding private adoptions in South Carolina. Basically, a woman has abandoned her two children at a neighbor's house and said that she will gladly sign her parental rights over to whoever will take the girls. My wife's best friend is a cousin of that neighbor. She (my wife's friend) badly wants to adopt one of the children, and my wife and I want to adopt the other. I have contacted two lawyers, one being our family lawyer and the other an adoption lawyer, and both say that a private adoption costs about five thousand dollars for the lawyer fees, then another two thousand for misc. court and state fees. I hate to say this, but I don't have $7,000 laying around. Is there any way to bypass this ridiculous amount? If we don't intervene and get the children, they will become wards of the state, and be put into the foster care system. Obviously it seems that if someone wants abandoned children, it should not be so unaffordable. In fact, us taking these kids would save the taxpayers a lot of money, but I guess I am pointing out the obvious...... Does anyone know of anything that will help me? Please respond to this message, or email me directly. Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.