What is a child sponsor and how much is the program?
A child sponsor is anyone who has the desire to impact lives and raise up the next generation. For $40 per month, your dedicated sponsorship will influence your child in the following ways:
In Thailand:
In India:
May I send gifts to my child?
For the sake of making each child feel loved and valued equally, we ask that you refrain from sending gifts to your child. Part of your sponsorship funds are saved up for Birthday and holiday gifts. The programs we work with give each child the same type of gift so that feelings are not hurt, and children are not envious of what others have.
How can I donate?
You can choose to support a child or center by making a monthly commitment or you can make a one-time donation to the program itself by visiting the locations page.
What do I receive as a child sponsor?
As a sponsor, you will be guaranteed that you are impacting lives with the love of Jesus and providing them with the next steps that they need to take to have a better future. You will receive a welcome packet with a photo and bio card of your sponsored child or center, the opportunity to write and receive letters and, at least one letter a year from your child.
What ages of children are eligible for sponsorship?
Children in Thailand are eligible for the sponsorship program up through their 20’s as long as they are in school. Their age is not an indicator for what grade they are in. When children arrive, they may be at a different grade level than other children their age. The school that we enroll them in will assess them and place them in the appropriate grade level.
In India, the It's a Girl Program welcomes girls ages 0-3 years old. Once the girls reach 3 years old, they are able to enter public preschool and the families no longer require childcare.
Do any of the children have parents?
Some of our children that we care for are orphans and some have parents or relatives. Children with family members have been brought to us because family members could no longer provide for them or have taken ill. Whether children have family or not, all of our children desperately need love and sponsorship.
How long will my child sponsorship last?
When you sponsor a child in Thailand you can stay with a child right up until they graduate from school and move away from the Children’s home. When you sponsor an It’s a Girl center in India, you are sponsoring the center itself, not a specific child. So as the children come and go from the center, your sponsorship will remain the same.
A child's circumstances may also change. For example, a child can move back in with their family, or the family could move away. We'll inform you promptly if anything affects the child you sponsor, and we'll offer you other sponsorship opportunities.
If I discontinue my sponsorship, what happens to the child?
We understand that financial hardship occurs. If you need to end your child sponsorship, we will immediately look for a new sponsor for your child.
How can I communicate with the child I sponsor?
We encourage sponsors to get to know the child they're sponsoring by exchanging letters. You may send cards and letters to your sponsored child via Woodside’s missions office (Woodside Bible Church, Attn: Child Sponsorship, 6600 Rochester Rd. Troy, MI 48085). Depending on the country, sponsor letters will either be delivered throughout the year whenever we have teams traveling to the location, or once we have enough letters to mail a package. The timeframe for delivery depends upon the country you choose, and when we have teams traveling to that area.
What are the letter writing guidelines?
Kids love to get letters from sponsors! Please follow these simple guidelines for letter writing:
Please Do:
Please Don't:
Will my child write to me?
Your child will write you at least once a year. This will coincide with Woodsides short-term trips collecting the letters and bringing them back. A teacher or staff person will help children who can't read and write yet.
Can I visit my sponsored child?
We would love for you to meet your sponsored child by going on a short-term mission trip to Chiang Rai, Thailand or to visit the It’s a Girl centers in India. To apply for our mission trips, click here
What happens to children in the program who are not sponsored?
To ensure that every child is properly cared for and fully supported, Woodside Bible Church pays the difference for any child who is not fully funded. Our goal is 100% sponsorship so that we can allocate Woodside funds to other initiatives.
What percentage of my donation goes directly to the program?
In order to enhance the sponsorship experience, Woodside retains 10% of donations for administration of the program. The remaining 90% of donations are sent to our programs in India and Thailand.
Will I receive a tax receipt for my contributions?
Yes, Woodside’s finance department will send you a tax receipt for you to apply to your taxes.
Who can I contact with questions?
You can email sponsorship@woodsidebible.org with any questions.