Give1Save1 - An Interview

I've said before the adoption community is amazing and supportive and familial. Give1Save1 is the epitome of all that. Each Monday they post a new family and ask you for a dollar. "Adoption for the people, by the people." as the website says.

One of the things I love about Give1Save1 is that Beth, the mama who started it, did so while she was still in the process of adopting herself. She was focusing on others while her journey was still going on. That's what I'm talking about.

I asked Beth back in August if she would answer a few questions for me about Give1Save1 and I am just. now. posting. Forgive me for withholding this awesomeness from you for so long.

Can you explain the concept behind give1save1?
Well, in the adoption community, MANY of us are supportive and want to help, but we're fundraising ourselves. We want to help, but we're stretched too. So I figured if we could just give a little but be consistent with it and viral with it, then it would make an impact for just a few families. Then as other people approach their crunch time they reciprocate. It's all God's money anyway, so it seems like we could shift and share to accomplish something big for a family at a time.

When did you start give1save1 and why? 
It's actually really really silly. I started it in June of 2011 when we started our adoption process. I've always been a blogger and a blog hopper and I follow some of the 'big ones'. And then when you follow them for so long you trust these chicks and feel like they're your friends (maybe I'm a total freak here). But I noticed one day that Pioneer Woman was once again giving away a KitchenAid and she had 40,000 people commenting to win this thing. I thought "if P-Dub would just tell everyone to give me a dollar they would totally do it and my adoption would be done". But she wouldn't and neither would Holly from Decor8 or Rachel Ray or anybody. So I figured I needed my own blog with a massive following and every week I would tell them to give a dollar. OK, so the massive part is really like 300, so that's not that massive, but we're growing!

How many families have been featured? 
Around 60

How much total money has been raised? 
Over $100,000 but I can't keep track! I'm starting to though, just out of curiosity. :)

You just announced growing to include resources for families adopting from the US, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe, in addition to Africa. What is your hope for Give1Save1? 
My eventual hope is that we'll be able to provide big numbers ($10K consistently) for 5 families a week, educate and inspire about Christian adoption, and start to fund more projects and support more ministries in addition to personal adoptions.

Where is your family in the adoption process? 
We've adopted a 7 month old boy named Jude! We're just waiting for him to clear Embassy and then we'll be over there so quick! UPDATE: Jude is home!!!

Hop on over to Give1Save1. Give $1. Save 1 orphan. It's that simple.