Colfax jog to raise funds for an adoption

A three-mile run and walk is going down this Saturday, Nov. 20 at Schmuck park to raise funds for a Colfax family adopting two Ethiopian children.

The Knox family is looking to raise $26,000 to adopt a brother and sister pair from an orphanage in Ethiopia.

Another Colfax family, Matt and Jill Ross, began a non-profit organization this summer geared toward helping families adopt. No Longer Orphans is putting on the run/walk and has already raised $8,000 for the Knox family.

Entry to the run is $20 and starts at 9 a.m.

Jill Ross said they have already held a yard sale of both families’ possessions and her son gave the proceeds from his lamb at the fair.

The Ross’s completed their own adoption of a child from Ethiopia this summer.

They adopted a two-year-old girl named Ellianna out of an orphanage with 20 other one and two-year-olds. The couple already has four boys and was interested in raising a girl.

The orphanage had four nannies on staff, but Jill said the children were still very grateful for extra attention.

“You would walk in and they would swarm around you begging to be picked up, desperate for attention,” Jill said.

The fate of an orphan in Ethiopia is harsh; they are turned to the street at a younger age, with no family.

“That was the big catalyst for starting this No Longer Orphans, was seeing the level of need and how these children have no hope,” Jill said.

They plan on encouraging and helping more families after helping the Knoxs.

“God is pretty clear how he feels about widows and orphans,” Jill said.