| Adopting a baby can indeed be a very expensive | | | | by donating a few dollars even if they cannot find |
| process and many potential adoptive parents are | | | | what they like at the sale. |
| frightened away by the financial burden which they | | | | 2. Community Dinner |
| cannot afford to bear. I know how difficult it can be | | | | If your local community or church allows, you can |
| because I've gone through the process myself. | | | | hold an adoption fundraising dinner. Tell people the |
| However, you can make plans for it first and try to | | | | motive for your fundraising event and many people |
| save up sufficient amount over a period of time, like | | | | will be willing to help. You do not have to serve |
| in our case over 2 years. We also took loans from | | | | expensive dishes at the dinner, food like fried chicken |
| family members and fortunately for us, the adoptive | | | | wings, cookies, cakes or baked potatoes will be |
| agency which we enlisted caters for installment | | | | sufficient. It is important that you count the number |
| payments for the adoption fees. Meanwhile, we also | | | | of guests who have paid to attend so as not to |
| carried out some fundraising activities to add on to | | | | purchase too much food and end up wasting more |
| our adoption budget. Here are some tips which you | | | | money. |
| can use. | | | | 3. Carwash |
| 1. Garage Sales | | | | If you have ample space in your front yard or |
| I believe this is the most commonly used method by | | | | garden, you might want to invite people over for a |
| nevertheless still a very effective method. Although it | | | | carwash as a fundraising activity. You can even bring |
| might not bring in a lot but whatever amounts will | | | | out the stereo and have the visitors pay a couple of |
| definitely help. All you need is a bit of your time. | | | | dollars to play a selected song while waiting for their |
| Another advantage is that it can also help to clear | | | | cars to be washed! |
| out some of the items that you no longer need! | | | | 4. Solicitation Letter |
| Before you carry out your garage sale, you will first | | | | You can write a letter to your close friends or family |
| need to visit your basement, attic or whatever | | | | telling them about your plan in adopting a baby and |
| storage room you have at home to source out the | | | | that you are in the process of setting up an adoption |
| items you no longer need. You might just surprise | | | | fund. You may even include the picture of your |
| yourself with the number of valuable items that are | | | | selected baby if there is one. You do not have to |
| hiding in a corner collecting dust and you don't even | | | | ask them directly for money but can causally ask if |
| remember having them in the first place! | | | | they keen in helping a good cause. Some of them will |
| Alternatively, you might even ask your close friends, | | | | donate to your fund or help you out in other ways. |
| neighbours or family members if they could | | | | As we have seen, adopting a baby is by no means |
| contribute any item to your garage sale. | | | | an easy or cheap process, thus you might have to |
| Other than the usual second hand stuff found in your | | | | spend many months or even years to accumulate |
| storage rooms, you can also bake and sell food such | | | | enough funds for your adoption fees. You can carry |
| as cookies and candy or even sell drinks at your | | | | out a few or even all of the above mentioned ways |
| garage sale. If you are able to get the help of many | | | | for your fundraising events. Remember, do not give |
| friends and relatives to help you out, you can even | | | | up and you will be rewarded by the unique |
| have it like a mini funfair with self-invented games as | | | | relationship which is awaiting you at the end of the |
| well! The most important thing to note is that when | | | | adoption process. There had been difficult times for |
| you are advertising for your garage sale make sure | | | | us too but when we look at the joy on the faces of |
| you include the reason why you having such a sale. | | | | our twins, we know that whatever hardship we had |
| There are people out there who will be willing to help | | | | gone through is definitely worth while. |