Ever wonder what you can do to support adoption/foster care? Maybe you don’t feel as if you can take a child into your home. Maybe you already raised your children and you aren’t ready to start over. It may be that you have a heart for adoption,but it’s not time for you to walk the adoption road, a few more things may need to fall into place. The good news is, you don’t have to adopt/foster to support it. You can support those who do and it’s not terribly difficult.

 External religious worship [^[b]religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit andhelp and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.” James 1:27

1. Host a shower for the foster/adoptive family.

There are many much needed items when a family welcomes a newborn home. Many of those material needs are filled at a shower or for baby two or three, a sprinkle.

Adoptive/Foster parents often wing this alone (especially when welcoming older children). Foster parents often get a call in the middle of the night that children are being delivered. No warning.

International adoption is trickly too. Parents can wait for years of the call. Nither of the secenarios means the family has what they need. The family’s money may be tied up in lawyer’s fees, birth mother care, travel and in some cases, a home addition to accomodate the newbies.

This is where you come in if you want to help, throw a shower. It doesn’t have to be huge or fancy. My church body threw a small shower for us after the four new Guires came home. I asked specifically that it not be a ‘toy’ shower. Instead, it was household items, which helped me immensly- bulk paper towels, toilet paper, cleaners, some no perishable food items- all of these saved me from running to the store every other day. Seven kids go through a lot of toilet paper, paper towels, clorox wipes and snacks!

A good friend of mine took found John Deere comforters and took it upon herself to buy three sets, including sheets! What a blessing!

These sorts of gifts of ordinary, every day items are priceless to the Mama and Papa who are parenting a new set of children. It is caring for orphans in a tangible way without adopting yourself. Not everyone is called to adopt, but everyone is called to care for orphans. Hosting a shower for adoptive/foster families is a simple way to do just that!