“How do I do this, moneywise? I want to adopt, but it seems so overwhelming. We don’t really have $20,000 in the bank, ya know!” Please blog about your experience, ideas, insight, fundraisers and other ideas that worked for you while raising your adoption money.
Well folks, this is the type of question I was both afraid of, and excited about. We don't talk about the money part, because it is certainly the most difficult for us. If you are looking for brilliant ideas to raise money, don't look here. We simply used our home equity loan to fund our adoption. We will certainly utilize the adoption tax credit, whenever the county decides to let us finalize.
I know that there are lots of adoption loans, grants, scholarships out there. We didn't apply for any. I felt guilty. When we began this process I still felt like adoption was first and foremost for folks that could not have biological children. One of the reasons that we steared away from domestic adoption was because it felt competitive. We didn't have a strong pull toward domestic and didn't want to feel that we were competing with folks that did feel strongly about it and didn't have the option of biological children. The money was the same way. What if we were taking money away from folks with no children?
I do feel like we were called to adopt. We will do it again. Next time we won't have a choice - we will have to look at other avenues for financial assistance. We will be doing more fundraising, perhaps become a bit more public with our situation. We'll do what we need to do because we know that the end result is worth it. And we know that this is how our family is supposed to be formed. Anyone who has seen how amazingly well Max Rup fits in will have no doubts that he was meant for us.
For friends and family - I promise I'll post some good pics soon. We've got baby ducks, and baby Austin, and the 4th of July. Whoa - I'm behind.
4 comments:
Oh Kristy!! While I understand your "guilt" as you put it, you and your family are just as intitled to help as Joel & I or any other childless couple for that matter! Remember, it's not just about building your family: it's about giving the children families. That what ministries like Shaohannah's Hope feel anyways. I know for us, we didn't really shout it out that we were fundraising, but we did do it. It was so humbling. But people responded. BIG HUGS!
We asked two family members for help . . . and didn't apply for grants because of the same guilt! We thought, "We have two people willing to help us with some of the costs, and some people have no options." Next time (if and when the India program opens up to non-NRIs again), we will try for scholarships/grants.
-- Nancy
kristy-- you are making a difference in a child's life with that grant! Instead of thinking of what you are taking away from a parent, think of what you are giving a child! You are such a good mom! Friends and family would surely give-- and there have to be more fundraising ideas out there. Please, let me know how I can help.
xo,
Nicole
My husband was leary about fundraising as well. We just asked for $ for Christmas for the adoption, etc. One idea we are going to use for help on travel expenses, etc. is to give baby bottles to close friends and family and ask them to save their change for us. That doesn't feel as ackward to us and I know every little bit will help. :)
CandiceS
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