Raffles and Fundraising to bring that child home

Over the years I have purchased many fundraising raffle tickets. Including tickets from a local MRDD school to help update a playground, I actually won. From fellow nursing home employees to raise money for Christmas gifts for our residents. We would do anything to brighten the day for our residents on Christ Birthday or any other day of the year. My family bought tickets to help a small rural community build their own firestation and they were able to through fundraising. They held raffles, bean dinners and hog roast. Once they had the funding to build they raised money to purchase equipment. Their efforts took a few years but it was worth it.
Did any of the fundraising benefit my family?...no.. but it did benefit many in our community.
Throughout the years my husband and I have made donations to ...Right To Life, St Jude , Children's Miracle Network, Disabled American veterans, and area food banks. Sometimes our monetary donations were small. But we did give what we could. It is easier to donate when several people benefits, versus one.

Would I ever donate to an adoption fundraiser? No. But I probably would donate to an orphanage to provide the needs for the kids.

In a way I find fundraising for adoptions offensive, unless a small amount is needed. A person just doesn't wake up one day and choose to adopt. The PAP starts to think of adoption and I hope real thought is put into it. How will the Adoption affect you or existing children in the house? Can you afford it? Is the child special needs, are you prepared emotionally or financially for the cost?

The child is more than a picture on a website (which was most likely posted illegally) . The child has needs and the most shocking part only a handful of the PAP were prepared for the special need from prior experience. And the ones prepared spent less time shopping, decorating and filling the child's New room full of fru fru. They research, talk to specialist and school officials. They save money to cover the deductibles their insurance requires for certain procedures. They save and plan. They don't go into the Adoption blind or hoping for the best. They don't fantasize a perfect child from a picture on a website. The PAP who are prepared spend less time fundraising and are discreet if they do need help.