Fundraisers to Help ‘Love Them Home’

Eric and Elizabeth Stepien are continuing their journey to add two children with special needs to their family.

With the help of two upcoming fundraisers, the Plainfield couple is hoping to adopt two children from Poland.

Dubbed “Love Them Home” events, the fundraisers are aimed at helping offset the cost of the international adoption, estimated at around $40,000 to $50,000.

Upcoming events:

• “Love Them Home” Pajama Party: From 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, Kids Into Donating Service (K.I.D.S.) will host a pajama party at the Children and Arts Center at the HighPoint Children & Arts Center, 174 Highpoint Dr. in Romeoville. Adults will be on hand to provide supervision so parents can enjoy a night out while children enjoy dinner, a snack, a movie and story time. The suggested donation is $10 per child or $25 per family. Parents are also welcome to attend the event; cost for children whose parents are present is $5. Guests are also asked to bring a canned/non-perishable food item to be donated to the Beverly Skoff Elementary School food drive. To reserve a spot, email kidsimpact@yahoo.com by Wednesday, Oct. 10.
• Shear Love: LifeSpring Community Church, 14735 Wood Farm Rd., will host the “Shear Love” event, featuring $5 haircuts from area hair stylists who will donate their time for the fundraiser, from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14. Lunch will also be served.

The Stepiens are the parents of Abram, 6; Ania, 4; and Evi, 3.

Initially, the couple planned to adopt two HIV-positive siblings from Russia, but the Stepiens said their journey has led them to an adoption agency in Poland.

Follow the Stepien’s story at www.adoptbyfaith.blogspot.com.