We are well on our way to finalizing our home study. One last notary stamp and we should be all set. The plan is to have it stamped and off to our social worker by the end of next week!
The timing is perfect. A finalized home study is usually the first step in getting to be able to work with non-profit organizations to fundraise. This means that people can make tax-deductible donations to the organization and because we've been selected by the organization we can benefit from the donations.
For us, this is perfect. We wrestled with the idea of "fundraising" to support our adoption. Early on we had no plans of fundraising - at all.... totally against it. After all, if we were having a baby in the traditional way, there would be no fundraising, so why on earth would we expect adoption to be any different?
The change in thinking for us came as we began to understand that although we saw adoption as the way we planned on building our family and not a humanitarian project; in the big picture, there is an orphan crisis - just like there is a clean water crisis or injustice in Sudan or mass devastation following a tsunami. So, just like it would be ridiculous for the Red Cross to think they could do anything to help end human suffering without raising awareness and encouraging others to get involved, it would be silly of us not to see this as an opportunity to invite everyone we know to get involved in a issue of social justice that is so close to our hearts.
UNICEF estimates that there are over 200 million orphans in the world. Obviously our first desire is that these kiddos could be re-united with their birth families; but the reality is that this isn't always possible. So, as we fundraise, we are partnering with non-profit organizations that financially support families through the adoption process, organizations that support orphanages and transition homes for kiddos who have been separated from their families, or organizations that help to support families who are at-risk so that no child is orphaned because a birth family didn't have resources to support themselves. We invite you to join us as we work to raise awareness and fight to connect every kiddo with loving family.
Next Saturday, we are hosting our first official fundraiser in partnership with Vineyard Church of Glendora. We've been involved with the Vineyard Association for over a decade. About a year ago, we discovered Vineyard Glendora. It is a faith-based community who lives and breathes our heart for adoption and foster care.
Join us, Saturday, March 24, 2012, at Domenico's Pizza (146 N Glendora Ave.) and Classic Coffee in Glendora - just about 20 minutes east of Los Angeles. Beginning at 5 p.m., Domenico's will donate a percentage of their proceeds to the VCG's adoption fund. From 6- 8 p.m., Classic Coffee -just next door- has extended their hours so to host a small event for us. You can expect music by Jimmy and his friends, stories of families who have already adopted from Ethiopia, and a little of our story. We'd love to see you there!
With love,
Jimmy and Celeste
No comments:
Post a Comment