Local grandmothers aid in adoption of child
Local grandmothers aid in adoption of child
Special to Record Publishing Co. The Spracklen Family, who live in Erie, Pa., are being assisted in their plans to adopt a male infant from Ethiopia by Grandmas Without Borders, a group of local women who will host a garage sale Aug. 23 and donate the proceeds to pay for adoption costs. The Spracklens, from left, are: Adrian; Luka, 5; Henley, 9; Teagan, 7; and Mia.
by Tess Wolfe
Reporter
Stow -- A group of nine local women who range in age from 52 to 70 are pitching in to aid in the adoption of a child from Ethiopia.
Calling itself "Grandmas Without Borders," the group will host a garage sale from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 23 at the home of one of its members at 3528 Dayton Ave. in Stow. All proceeds from the garage sale will go toward paying the adoption expenses of member Paula U-Rycki's future grandson.
"They are exceptional women," U-Rycki said of her friends. "It's not just within the group they reach out. In their own lives, they're all givers. I had asked the group for their support in prayer. That's where this came from."
U-Rycki's daughter, Mia Spracklen, who lives in Erie, Pa., grew up in Stow. Spracklen and her family are in the process of adopting a child through Hope Adoption Agency. The family selected the agency after months of online research and phone interviews with various adoption organizations.
The St. Louis-based organization deals only with Ethiopian adoptions, Spracklen said.
"We have three healthy, biological children," Spracklen said of herself and husband Adrian.
However, she added, there are 143 million orphans and children in foster care who "need families."
"Adoptive children are not second-class citizens," said Spracklen. "This child will be our son."
She estimated the adoption will cost approximately $25,000, which includes travel fare and processing expenses; they expect to adopt their as-yet unknown son next year.
"People look at adoption and say, 'It's so time consuming,'" said Spracklen. "And it is. But, a child just wants someone to kiss them goodnight."
Grandmas Without Borders members formed approximately five years ago, although the women have known each other for much longer, said member Karin Warner. The groups meets once a month.
"We've all been friends for years, since our kids were little," Warner said. " Now, [our kids] have their own kids. We're just kind of a support for each other."
Warner said the garage sale is a way for the group to provide both financial and moral support to the family during the long months of the adoption process.
"We're trying to help out," Warner said. "This is our first fundraising effort."
For those interested in donating items for the garage sale, call
E-mail: twolfe@recordpub.com
Phone: