As I mentioned in my last post, we are in the midst of pursuing a domestic adoption. We are excited at the opportunity to add a child to our family. With the opportunity to add to our family comes the reality that adoption can be expensive and it requires lots of sacrifice and creativity. We have been saving for this adoption every chance we had since we brought Cohen home, but the reality is that we are still short of what we will need to complete this adoption. As I wrote in our last post, with a domestic adoption most of the funds are needed as soon as we are matched so it’s pertinent to have the funds available so that when a situation presents itself we can pursue it. We have been applying for a few grants and got the great news last week that we were awarded a matching grant from Hand in Hand .
With this grant we have the opportunity to potentially be awarded $7000. If family and friends contribute tax deductible donations totaling at least $3500 Hand in Hand will match dollar for dollar with a grant up to $3500. In an effort to invite others to help us in this journey we want to share the letter that we have recently sent to family and friends. If you can give, great! But, please know there are no expectations on our part. We simply wanted a way for others to know about this exciting blessing and opportunity.
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Dear Family and Friends,
As many of you may have already heard we feel God has called us on another journey to provide a “forever” family to a child through the process of adoption. We started down this path of adoption at the end of last year and will be excited to bring a child into our home within the next six to nine months. We have felt led to pursue a child domestically within the United States and are now waiting for the specific child God has for us.
This road to adoption is full of many joys and challenges, the greatest joy being the inclusion of a child into our family and the greatest challenge being finances. The costs of adoption include the expense of a home study, adoption agency, lawyers, travel expenses, etc., with the total cost ending up somewhere around $30,000.
We were recently awarded a matching funds grant to help with the expenses of our adoption through Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. a non-profit private operating foundation. Hand in Hand will match any funds that are donated through our friends and family for the expenses of our adoption. All funds received through our friends and family will be matched dollar for dollar by Hand in Hand up to our awarded grant amount. All donations are tax-deductible.
We wanted you to be aware of this unique blessing and opportunity because of what you mean to our family and how you graciously blessed us in our first adoption journey. There is no expectation on our part. We would be honored and humbled simply to know you are covering us in prayer as we seek to walk forward in faith.
Please find enclosed a grant award letter that will explain more about the matching grant program from Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. You can find out more about Hand in Hand through their website at www.handinhandadopt.org. If you have further questions about the Hand in Hand matching grant program please feel free to give us a call at 270-994-5350 or email us at darlingbydesign@gmail.com. You may also contact Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. with any questions you may have. They can be reached at 913-248-5015 or by e-mail at handinhandadopt@gmail.com.
We have a limited window (5 weeks) for this grant opportunity. If interested, please send all donations made payable to “Hand in Hand Christian Adoption” postmarked by May 16th, 2013 to: (for tax purposes please include our name on the outside of the envelope only…do not put our name on the check itself)
Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc.
Mike & Sara Darling
18318 Mimosa Court
Gardner, KS 66030
Thank you for your prayerful consideration in helping a child find a “forever” family. We love you.
Live to Love,
Mike and Sara Darling
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