Affording Adoption
How Kurt and Carmon Financed Their Adoption
As the program manager for AAI’s Haiti and Ethiopia programs and an adoptive family caseworker, Kurt works every day to provide orphaned children with a loving family. “My passion is to help give hope and love to children who may not otherwise have a future,” says Kurt. Yet Kurt’s passion for adoption goes beyond his work. Already the parents of three biological sons, Kurt and his wife, Carmon, felt called to adopt themselves and were finally able to bring home their little girl, Chloe, last month from China.
Financing the Adoption
Before coming to AAI in 2004, Kurt had worked as a youth pastor and was familiar with fundraising for mission trips. So when it came to raising money for the adoption, Kurt and Carmon had many examples to draw from. They are willing to share the ways that helped them finance their adoption with other adoptive families. Keep reading for ideas that may help you.
Donating Plasma
If you don’t have a phobia of needles, donating plasma may very well be one of the best—and fastest—ways to save money for your adoption.
Kurt and Carmon set up an adoption fund at a plasma center and both have donated plasma two times a week for the past two years. “We receive $20 for the first visit in a given week, and $30 for the second,” says Kurt. Between Kurt and his wife, this has added up to an extra $100 a week that could be put towards their adoption. The plasma center kept track of the money in the account, and when they needed a check for adoption expenses, they could cash out money from their fund.
Kurt and Carmon also asked family and friends to commit to donating plasma twice a week for a month and placing their payment in the couple’s adoption fund. They were hoping for ten volunteers, and they nearly met their goal.
Doing Odd Jobs
Remember that odd job you had in high school, college, or grad school? Now may be the time to brush up on your old skills.
Kurt paid his way through grad school by working as an independent painter, and when it came to financing his daughter’s adoption, his painting skills became an answer to prayer. Kurt and Carmon had felt God calling them to pursue adoption, and one day while reading his devotions, Kurt realized that this adoption was God’s project, not his own. Therefore, he and Carmon began praying for God to help fund His project. Soon after, the phone started ringing. On the other end of the line were many of Kurt’s old customers asking him to paint a room here or there, or complete other painting jobs. In addition to Kurt’s painting, Carmon typed part time for a transcription company. The couple was able to set aside the money they earned from their odd jobs for their daughter’s adoption.
Because Kurt was still involved with his church’s youth group, he also thought about seeing if the group would help him organize a car wash as a service project, the proceeds of which would go towards his daughter’s adoption. Although Kurt didn’t end up having time to put this idea into motion, he does recommend that other families look into organizing a car wash to help raise money for their adoption.
One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure
You’ve undoubtedly heard the saying before that “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Oftentimes, this “trash” is a “treasure” a buyer is willing to pay for. Now may be the time to clean out your basement, your attic, or your closets, and host a garage sale.
Kurt and Carmon did just that. Members of their church even donated items to their garage sale for them to sell. The couple was then able to put all of the proceeds towards their adoption. Although they admit that the garage sale was a lot of work, it did help raise significant funding for their adoption.
If you don’t want to have a garage sale but have items you would like to part with, consider selling them on eBay instead. Then put your profits towards your adoption.
Craft Shows
Right before Christmas, Carmon rented a booth at a craft show in order to sell some of the couple’s crafty creations. Although this particular show didn’t bring in quite the proceeds that they were hoping for, Kurt admits that craft shows can be difficult to make money on because it is hard to know what will sell. Nevertheless, selling items at a craft show can be a good way to raise some extra money.
Parting Suggestions
For adoptive parents struggling to finance an adoption, Kurt has several suggestions. “First of all, be creative, and don’t be afraid to try things,” says Kurt. “Also, don’t be afraid to ask others to help financially. People are usually more than happy to fund adoption because of its permanent results.” Often, receiving help from family and friends can be as simple as writing a letter asking them for a financial contribution, or seeing if they would be willing to donate plasma and give their payment to your adoption account.
If you are still looking for more ways to finance your adoption, please visit our Adoption Funding page.
