Help Chuck & Lara Pickrel Adopt!
Donation protected
We are Chuck and Lara Pickrel. Some of you know us as pastors & youth ministers in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Others know us from church camp, from school, or because we're family. Still others may not know us at all -- if that's the case, hello kind stranger! Regardless of how we know you (or don't), we're grateful that you are taking the time to check out our campaign!
Neither of us ever thought we'd be raising money via a Go Fund Me campaign. But over the course of the last two years, we learned a painful truth: we're physically unable to conceive a child. Knowing this, and knowing that we both continue to feel called to parenthood, we're left with the conclusion that we are also called to build our family through adoption.
Adoption is a beautiful thing. It's a gift for children, a gift for birth parents, and a gift for adoptive parents. Unfortunately, it is also prohibitively expensive. Home studies, agency fees, placement fees, medical costs for a birth mom, court costs, legal fees... when all is said and done, we will likely need $30k to $35k in order to make this dream a reality. The number isn't firm because every adoption situation is different, but the range is realistic.
We've already received a very generous gift from a family member. That gift has kick-started our adoption fund, and currently resides in a Benefit Accumulation Account with the Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). All donations will find their way to that account, where they will grow due to a good rate and quarterly compounding interest. As soon as our home study process is complete, we are also applying for several matching grants from various non profit organizations that help adoptive families. That means that your gift will grow (perhaps even double!) as we wait for a birth mom to choose us to parent her baby.
If you choose to make a donation to our adoption fund, we will be forever grateful. Likewise, if you cannot give -- or if you don't think adoptions should be financed in this way -- we still covet your prayers. As we raise our one-day child, we intend to tell her/him the story of his/her adoption -- and you will be a part of that story! Our Little One will know from infancy what it is like to be loved, supported, and prayed for by a community that is deep and wide.
Thank you for your loving support.
P.S. If you'd prefer to make a purchase rather than a donation, the Threads of Faith quilters at First Christian Church of Smithville, MO are about to begin selling tickets for an amazing quilt. They made the queen-sized quilt especially for the sake of raising funds to help us with our adoption. Tickets will cost $5 each or $20 for 5. As funds are raised, we will update the fundraising total on this page so that you can see how these different efforts add up. The beautiful quilt will travel around the Greater KC Region between now and February 26th, 2017. On the 26th, the drawing will take place during a Youth Mission Fundraiser Dinner at FCC Smithville. You need not be present to win.
Neither of us ever thought we'd be raising money via a Go Fund Me campaign. But over the course of the last two years, we learned a painful truth: we're physically unable to conceive a child. Knowing this, and knowing that we both continue to feel called to parenthood, we're left with the conclusion that we are also called to build our family through adoption.
Adoption is a beautiful thing. It's a gift for children, a gift for birth parents, and a gift for adoptive parents. Unfortunately, it is also prohibitively expensive. Home studies, agency fees, placement fees, medical costs for a birth mom, court costs, legal fees... when all is said and done, we will likely need $30k to $35k in order to make this dream a reality. The number isn't firm because every adoption situation is different, but the range is realistic.
We've already received a very generous gift from a family member. That gift has kick-started our adoption fund, and currently resides in a Benefit Accumulation Account with the Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). All donations will find their way to that account, where they will grow due to a good rate and quarterly compounding interest. As soon as our home study process is complete, we are also applying for several matching grants from various non profit organizations that help adoptive families. That means that your gift will grow (perhaps even double!) as we wait for a birth mom to choose us to parent her baby.
If you choose to make a donation to our adoption fund, we will be forever grateful. Likewise, if you cannot give -- or if you don't think adoptions should be financed in this way -- we still covet your prayers. As we raise our one-day child, we intend to tell her/him the story of his/her adoption -- and you will be a part of that story! Our Little One will know from infancy what it is like to be loved, supported, and prayed for by a community that is deep and wide.
Thank you for your loving support.
P.S. If you'd prefer to make a purchase rather than a donation, the Threads of Faith quilters at First Christian Church of Smithville, MO are about to begin selling tickets for an amazing quilt. They made the queen-sized quilt especially for the sake of raising funds to help us with our adoption. Tickets will cost $5 each or $20 for 5. As funds are raised, we will update the fundraising total on this page so that you can see how these different efforts add up. The beautiful quilt will travel around the Greater KC Region between now and February 26th, 2017. On the 26th, the drawing will take place during a Youth Mission Fundraiser Dinner at FCC Smithville. You need not be present to win.
Organizer
Lara Blackwood Pickrel
Organizer
Liberty, MO