Couple Raising Money for Ethiopia Adoption

When Trey and Ashton Phillips settled on a garage sale to raise money for their adoption, they started looking around the house.

"We were kind of worried after going through our attic," said Ashton. "We didn't have a lot of stuff."

A few weeks later, after posting a listing on Craigslist and inviting support at their church and through their blog, the couple have a garage full of dining room furniture, a treadmill, pet carriers, clothes, toys and a variety of other items.

"The most surprising thing has been the generosity," Ashton said. One woman said she'd been collecting items for the couple from several different families. "She doesn't even know us — it's very overwhelming and humbling."

The will be held Saturday and Sunday from at 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the couple's business, Barfield's Appliance and Parts, at 100 Lumber Lane.

Married for four years the young couple had their first biological son, Kipton, in February.

They've always considered adoption and decided this summer to adopt their second child. There are different options for adoptive parents, both internationally and in the states.

The couple decided to adopt from Ethiopia after meeting families with children adopted from the African country. Ethiopia was already on the short list because few countries allow couples to adopt who are as young as the Phillips — Trey is 23 and Ashton is 22.

The couple also had another important factor. "We really wanted somewhere where the need was great," Ashton said. Ethiopia has a life expectancy of 45, with a high rate of infant deaths, likely due to poor sanitation and malnutrition.

When they first started considering adoption, Ashton spent hours each night looking at blogs about other families who had been through the process.

"It was a huge help," she said. "If we didn't have that encouragement, I don't think we'd believe we could do it."

Now, with they're own blog, Faith.Hope.Ethiopia.Love., the Phillips are sharing their early experiences and the first lessons they've learned with families just starting to consider adoption.

"Hopefully, it'll help people understand the process," Trey said.

The message the Phillips saw again and again on the internet was that you shouldn't let the cost of adopting be the lone reason for not doing it. And they found suggestions on fundraising ideas.

So far, the couple has already raised $3,000 with the support of family and friends and through fundraisers with their church, Northwood Assembly.

Their application for adoption is now due and that's another $2,400. The couple is hopeful that this garage sale can help with that cost. From there, there are thousands of dollars in paperwork, processing and travel — two trips are required to Ethiopia.

They've planned more fundraisers, including a dog wash in December and a pancake breakfast in January. The Phillips hope they'll have something very important to celebrate this time next year.

"If he's home by next Christmas, that will be amazing," Ashton said of their second child.