Here are a few more ideas for how to fundraise for your adoption:
Garage Sale
With this fundraiser, contact everyone you know and ask them if they have stuff to donate to your garage sale. Often people will have items sitting in their garage or in their attic and they will be thrilled to have you come haul it away. Another idea that I have heard of is that you can advertise in the paper that you will pick up the “leftovers” from other people’s garage sales. After a long day of selling, many people are thrilled to have you come get everything and save them the trouble of taking it to a thrift store.
Remember that a garage sale doesn’t have to be just about household items. You can also sell food and drinks. Popular items include donuts and coffee in the early morning, hotdogs around lunch time and baked goods all day.
In addition, make sure that you publicize that the garage sale is for the purpose of raising funds for your adoption. Many families will make a poster with their child’s picture or maybe a picture of the country where you expect to find your child. Often there are those who may not purchase anything from your garage sale, but may still want to help with your adoption.
We are planning on doing this fundraiser later this month. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Other Fundraisers
The ideas for other fundraisers are simply endless! You can sell candles, candy bars, jewelry, cookie dough, home items, etc. Where do you find these ideas? One of the best places I have found is www.fundraising.org They have a lot of great ideas. Find something that you would enjoy selling and that you think people in your area would be interested in.
The main thing to remember about most fundraisers is that one or two will not be enough to pay for your adoption. Instead, you will have to do a series of fundraisers in addition to counting your pennies, applying for grants, etc. However, fundraisers are definitely helpful and if you are determined they can make a big dent in your adoption expenses. After all, isn’t your future child worth it?
Note: For more great information on fundraising and to connect with other families who are fundraising for adoptions, join the Fundraising for Adoption Yahoo Group.