We Are
a New Mommy & Daddy! http://www.afamilyforeverychild.org (541-343-2856)
880 Beltline Rd. Springfield, OR 97477
A
FAMILY FOR EVERY CHILD JUNE 2010
My
husband, Dan, and myself each have children from
our first marriages. In 2006, we committed to
trying to have our own child, yet it ended
with no success. In October 2008, the
Doctor gave us two choices - donor eggs by an
annoymous donor or to adopt. We left very
disheartened. I did not want any more
children unless they were "ours". I then came
across the AFFEC website and saw all the
videos and pictures of children needing
parents. I sat and cried.
My
heart broke for all these children. Me
wanting children and thinking I did not want one
unless it came from my body was just plain stupid.
All these children just want someone to love
them and care for them.
In
August 2007, a truckdriver (we have a trucking
company and garage) stopped by the garage
with a four-year-old boy. He had met the
mother a couple weeks earlier working at a fast
food restaurant in Kentucky and she proceeded
to move in with him. Jokingly, I told
him that I'd just keep the child (this guy
knew i was trying to have a baby). He said there
was a girl also, and if their mother decided to
give them away he'd call me. By January 2009
they had broken up, then that call came.
I
had never really had any contact with her or the
children (Brandon and Angel), just the driver. In
May of that year the mother called him
(truckdriver) and wanted him to take the kids and
raise them (she could not provide for them the
way
they needed).
He refused. But, told her that he knew a
couple who could and gave her our
phone number. I
know God had his hand on these two children (they
have been with us since that night). They fit into
our family perfectly. It feels like they were
born here! They even look like us; everyone
is amazed how much Brandon resembles my son
Coty. Angel is a carbon copy of
myself and daughter Alyssa. All my
children treat Brandon and Angel as their little
brother and sister. They all spoil them more
than Dan and myself! Christy,
I pray for you and your mission daily. There are
so many families who grieve for children. Children
need love, stability, encouragement, and Godly
values taught to them. Brandon
and Angel are excelling in life! I pray that 10
years from now they will send you a note thanking
you for everything and all the wonderful things
God has done through you and your
work! Marjie Donations/Events
A Family For Every Child is
pleased to announce our first auction being held
November 11, 2010 at the Valley River Inn, Eugene
, Oregon. The event will be a celebration of
National Adoption Month. We
are currently seeking volunteers to help plan the
evening, host tables, help with auction item
procurement and day of event volunteers.
Please consider becoming a part of this fantastic
effort through volunteering, donating or
attending. We
look forward to the event bringing awareness to
our mission of finding families for children as
well raising much needed funds to continue our
life changing work. For
more information or to volunteer, please contact
Kassey Carter-Young, Director of Development at
541.554.7213 or
Professional
Bulletin Photos
By
knowing how important a good photo is to
recruitment, AFFEC is now offering to take
professional photos for child bulletins. We
are committed to a two week turn around
(although caseworker or foster parent schedules
may make this more
difficult). We
have developed our statewide list of photographers
that can (within a week of our call) photograph a
child or sibling group. Within a week of
images being taken, we will email the .jpg images
to caseworkers. We then store all images for
further recruitment tools if requested by the
caseworker. All that is needed is the
referral form linked
below: At
AFFEC we are working hard on our Heart
Gallery of Washington. Meet
one of our new and exciting partners in Washington
that will help us better serve our families:
Families
Like Ours!
Please
check out their site and let them know we/you
appreciate our new partnership!
Family
Finding Training Specializing in Internet Training and
tracking. Learn to use exciting sites such
as Facebook, Myspace and more as well
as tools to locate important people in the
lives of children in foster
care. Mark your calendar for a powerful training
series presented by LCC Instructor and Licensed
Forensic Psychologist Ruth Bicksel, who is
offering two training sessions that will support
our efforts to locate family members of the
children we serve in our Family Finding
program. This is a two week series, June 16 and
June 23, from 9am to 1pm. For more
information and/or to save your space, email Helen
at helen@afamilyforeverychild.org.
Volunteers We
need mentors for youth in foster care. Help
us make a difference in a child's life!
Here
is a request from a 16 year-old boy: a male
mentor, who can be supportive, give good advice,
good at sports, a good listener, and someone to
talk to. Can you be his mentor?
Do
you have a little extra time to give? He needs you
to encourage him to make good decisions!
This
is what this 16 year-old boy likes: reading,
drawing, skateboarding, riding/working on bikes,
and clothes shopping. He is open minded, flexible,
caring, considerate, kind, good with animals,
generous with elderly people. He also
enjoys golf, baseball, hanging out and
movies. His favorite treat is a homemade blizzard.
You
can make a huge difference in a young man's life,
let's work together to help these children.
Click below for more information on how to
become a mentor.
AFFEC
Media AFFEC
is on Facebook, Myspace, and more. Click on the
links! AFFEC
Blog: Please contribute your thoughts! Our
Mentor Program now has a discussion
group:
Perhaps
you are addicted to Social Media. Perhaps you
would like to get involved. We could use
you! We
are always looking for volunteers to help us
manage and respond to these sites. If you are
interested, please contact
christy@afamilyforeverychild.org
Heart
Gallery Northwest
Heart Gallery's First Washington
Venue! Overlake
Christian Church in Redmond, Washington has kindly
offered to become our first Washington venue.
Twelve images were on display at the church from
May 22 to May 26, 2010. Overlake
Christian Church is located at 9900 Willows Road
NE. If you happen to be in the area, please drop
by! If
you are interested in being a Washington Venue
please email
angela@afamilyforeverychild.org
or
anyone else at AFFEC! How can you contact A Family For
Every Child? Executive
Director--Christy Obie-Barrett
Call,
email, or visit us online or in
person!880 Beltline
Rd.
Springfield Oregon 97477
office
- 541-343-2856
toll free - 877-343-2856
fax
- 541-343-2866
info@afamilyforeverychild.org
