Consider Virtual Adoption | Cooking With Jade

Consider Virtual Adoption

5 MINS READ
Consider Virtual Adoption

Many of you reading this may be familiar with my story. If not, allow me to give you a brief history of my early years as a child. 

I was born in Hatsukaichi, Japan and at the age of 3, I was adopted by an amazing family from Springfield, IL. My mother was unable to take care of me as she desired, so decided to allow this family to adopt me and raise me as she wished she could. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the sacrifice she made for me. I’m one of the lucky ones to have been placed with a family that had the means to raise me in a safe and nourishing environment. 

Many children around the world don’t have this option, so that is why I wanted to take a moment to direct your attention to Virtual Adoptions.

Virtual Adoption Can Save A Life, And Enrich Your Own

One of the (few) positive things to come out of the pandemic is that we have been forced to find new and creative ways to connect with each other. If, like me, you often wonder what you can do to help kids during these incredibly challenging times, consider virtual adoption. This process allows you to provide necessities like food, housing, and education for a child in need. While you might never get to see this child in person, you can be sure that you are making a difference. 

Virtual Adoption Is The Right Choice For Our Times

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but sadly COVID-19 has disrupted that village in many ways. Essential charitable services like food pantries, tutoring, and clothing drives have been shut down or completely suspended in many communities. Of course, this affects children in substantial ways, but it also affects adults who have spent years helping and interacting with children through charitable organizations that are now on pause. This is where virtual adoption comes in. Virtual adoption allows people to help out remotely, in a way that doesn’t pose a health risk. 

Virtual Adoption Can Broaden Your Reach

One of the great things about virtual adoption is that it enables you to broaden the reach of your charity: you can even choose to virtually adopt a child in another country, if you wish. International virtual adoptions are very popular for several reasons. For one, the American dollar tends to go a lot further in most other countries than it does here. This means that, for millions (if not billions) of children around the world, a donation of even a few dollars a month can be life-changing. Another reason that international virtual adoption is so popular is that, while many Americans would love the chance to travel to another country to lend a hand, the time and expenses required are simply too great. This type of in-person assistance was difficult even before the pandemic; it is much more so now.

Tips For Virtual Adoptions

If you are thinking of virtually adopting a child, these tips will help you – and the child – get the most out of the experience. One of the first things that you should do is select an amount that you are comfortable giving on a regular basis, because, when it comes to sponsorship, consistency is key. Many virtual adoptions give you the option of making an automatic payment on the same date every month so that you don’t even have to worry about due dates or missed payments. 

Also, keep in mind that, with many organizations, there are several different ways to select a child to virtually adopt—it’s not just random (though it can be if you would like). For example, you could choose to virtually adopt a child from a specific country, if there is one that is especially near and dear to your help. You could also choose by age or condition (including specific disabilities or illnesses). Many adoptive “parents” choose to sponsor a child that has been waiting the longest for support, as several sponsorship organizations provide this option. However, you make your choice, prepare for your life to be changed as well.

 

Organizations To Work With

 

Consider Working With These 3 Organizations For Your Virtual Adoption

One of the few downsides of virtual adoption is that – like many other helpful digital services – it attracts scammers who would take advantage of people’s good nature. Such scammers lead you to believe that you are sponsoring a child in need, when in fact you are only lining the scammer’s pockets. And because virtual adoptions are most often handled online, scammers have a helpful screen of anonymity to hide behind. 

That is why it is so important to do your homework if you are considering virtual adoption. Read the reviews of sites and organizations that you are considering working with. It is also a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau, or your state Attorney General’s office for complaints. Remember, if something seems fishy, or too good to be true, there is a good chance that it is. That being said, these three organizations offer safe, secure, and reliable ways to pursue a virtual adoption.

unicef logo virtual adoption

UNICEF USA

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund – or UNICEF, for short – was established shortly after the Second World War, to bring food and other basic necessities to children and mothers in war-torn countries. Today, UNICEF’s mission of providing essentials and improving the quality of life for children around the world is largely the same. UNICEF claims that it helps children in 190 countries, including our own. Donations can be made online or through the mail. The website for UNICEF in the U.S. is https://www.unicefusa.org/.

save the children logo virtual adoption

Save The Children

Let’s not forget that poverty is a daily struggle for millions of Americans as well. That is why organizations like Save the Children are so helpful. Save the Children specializes in connecting sponsors with American children who are dealing with the affects of poverty. This organization has a long history: it was founded during the Great Depression of the 1930s, a time when millions of children in this country didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. Today, Save the Children primarily focuses on literacy/education and healthy, nutritional eating options. This organization can be reached at www.savethechildren.org.

world vision logo virtual adoption

World Vision

Based out of the Seattle area, World Vision is one of the most frequently used child sponsorship organizations in the U.S. As the name implies, this non-profit specializes in international virtual adoptions. One of the cool things about World Vision is that each “parent” (sponsor) is matched with a specific child. Sponsors even receive updates on the child’s life, including letters written by the child. This is a great way to make the connection personal and to see the tangible results of your generosity. World Vision’s website is www.worldvision.org.

To see me tell my story, you can always visit – https://cookingwithjade.com/about/


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