Foundation For Large Families
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The Adoption Journey Began 20 Years Ago.
NBC's 24
Joanne Nuzum tells NBC 24 News "We feel this is what God would have us do in our life and we hope to adopt more children." That is an amazing statement, considering the fact that Joanne and her husband, Scott Nuzum already have 30 children, 29 of whom are adopted.
This adoption journey began close to 20 years ago when Joanne tried to have more children after the birth of their son Daniel but due to medical complications she had a hysterectomy.
The couple turned to the adoption process to add to their family. And after four years on a waiting list, they adopted a special needs child named Megan who was seven months old.
Their desire to adopt even more children grew stronger and soon their house was filled with many children who had a wide range of disabilities and kids with special needs.
As the family continued to grow, their current home in Holland, Ohio, grew smaller. The obvious answer was to build a much larger house. And that's what they began to do earlier this year in the rural Bowling Green area.
The Dream Home hits a Wall
Half way into the construction project, the loan money and building supplies ran out. And the half-finished house sits waiting and ready for completion.
The prospects, however, for the home's immediate future are questionable. Money is an issue. The Nuzums rely on adoption subsidies.
The family is hoping, however, that with some community support, they may be able to turn their dream home into a reality.
As a result of several stories, reported by NBC 24, several contractors have volunteered their expertise and time to help continue work on the house. And as each day passes, the Nuzums are hearing from even more concerned people and businesses who are ready to help.
The Nuzums appreciate Your Support
Lowe's of Toledo and NBC 24 are raising funds to help the Nuzum family finish a home for their 29 adopted children. If interested, you can stop by the Lowe's of Toledo at 7000 West Central Avenue and tell the cashier you would like to donate to the fund. The cashier is prepared to accept your donation and give you a receipt. The donation will be tracked through the Lowe's computer system.
We will match up to $10,000 of your in-store contributions.
If you're interested in donating your time, money or supplies to the Nuzum building fund. Please contact Adopt America Network, 1025 North Reynolds Rd, Toledo, Ohio, 43615 or call 419-534-3350 or you can log onto their website at www.adoptamericanetwork.com Adopt American Network is private non-profit agency.
NBC 24 has been told 100 percent of the donations will go to completing the house.
We'll keep you updated right here on NBC 24, on this amazing family as they build towards the future and move closer to their home.
Previous Stories on the Nuzum Family
Nuzum Construction Gets a Second Start
NBC 24 has an update on a local family's struggle to build a bigger home. Thanks to an outpouring of support, Scott and Joanne Nuzum, a couple with 29 adoptive children, may soon see their dream home become a reality.
The Nuzums have been building a huge home in Bowling Green to accommodate their special family. Although money and supplies ran out half way through construction, a group of contractors is volunteering to finish the job. Although supplies are still in short demand, Lowe's Home Improvement has donated thousands of dollars worth of kitchen and bath fixtures, along with thousands in cash that will be used to buy lumber.
Volunteers began working on the new home the first week in January. Work had been stalled for four months because of a lack of funds and supplies.
If a steady stream of money and materials continues to be donated, the Nuzums should be able to move into their new home this Spring.
Building Block being Removed
01/16/03
We have an heartwarming update on a story we told NBC24 viewers about last Sunday regarding a unique family in Holland that's been struggling to get its new home built. Scott and Joanne Nuzum have 29 adoptive children. The family outgrew its Holland home years ago and now the Nuzums are currently building a bigger house in rural Bowling Green . Unfortunately, construction has been brought to a halt because loan money and supplies have run out. But, since our story aired last weekend, several local contractors have volunteered to help continue work on the new Nuzum house.
Members of Ridge Stone Builders and Developers in Perrysburg toured the construction site to check out what work still needs to be done. Although there's still plenty left to do, they say they're excited about helping out. "We would like to help out in any way we can," contractor, Brian Gruber, told NBC24. "Basically, we need to put a team together to tackle it because it's so big." With help on the way, a shortage of supplies seems to be the biggest hurdle left. Once materials are donated, work can begin again. If you're interested in making a donation to this special project, you're asked to call Adopt America at (419) 534-3350.
Crowded Christmas
12/03/02
The Nuzum family gives a new meaning to the idea of "giving to children." On Christmas day, they gave more than 100 presents to their 25 kids. The family spent the last 18 years adopting children with special needs. Many are bound to wheelchairs, or mentally challenged. Others had been abused by their former foster families. Some have scars from cigarette and knife wounds.
Scottie and Joanne Nuzum say they want to give their adoptive children the gift of hope and a loving family. "They're as thankful to have a family, as we are to have them as kids," said Joanne, smiling with a few of her children. "I think they're kind and considerate for taking us in. We love them a lot," said John, one of their adoptive boys. The family has no plans to stop adopting. They're in the process of building a new home. In January, they'll take in one more child. Government subsidies help them cover the bills that go along with raising 25 children. 12-25-01 Rob Packard Walking to Make a Dream Come True A local family is making great strides in its effort to build a bigger home. The Nuzum family held a walkathon at the Southwyck Mall on November 10, 2001 , to raise money for a new home. Over the past two decades, Scott and Joanne Nuzum have adopted 29 children, many with special needs. Now they've run out of room at their current home in Holland . Construction is already underway on a bigger house but, the family needs help with the cost.
The walkathon is one way the kids can help raise money. "We needed to do this," Scott Nuzum told NBC24. "My kids need to be part to see that other people are caring enough to be there for them."
If you would like to make a donation to the Nuzum Family Fund, you can contact the Adopt America Network at (419) 534-3350.
If you're interested in donating your time, money or supplies to the Nuzum building fund. Please contact Adopt America Network, 1025 North Reynolds Rd, Toledo, Ohio, 43615 or call 419-534-3350 or you can log onto their website atwww.adoptamericanetwork.com Adopt American Network is private non-profit agency.
Supplies designated for the Nuzum Home can also be dropped off at Ridge Stone Builders, 13101 Roachton Road, Perrysburg, Ohio 43551 or call 419-874-8847. 11/10/01 NBC 24's-Toledo John Antalek
By MARK ZABORNEY
BLADE STAFF WRITER
HASKINS, Ohio - Joanne and Scott Nuzum have embarked on a project almost bigger than their 20-year commitment to adopt children who would not be part of a family otherwise.
The couple, through donations of money, supplies, and labor, are turning a 20,000-square-foot metal building on King Road in Wood County’s Middleton Township into a home - albeit for their family of 27.
The building was abuzz with activity yesterday. A truck delivered supplies to the huge metal garage door that opens into the still largely undivided expanse.
Carpenters carried huge beams up the unfinished wooden stairs to the second floor.
The Nuzums and their children were there too.
"It’s big, and we can have a lot of room," Shanice, 9, said.
"I think it’s cool," Kayla, 14, said.
The Today show stopped by to do a live report, with Nuzum relations and well-wishers in attendance.
The Nuzums have 30 children all told, including a son by birth. The children they’ve adopted through the years - 25 of whom, ages 7 to 27, still live at home - have special needs that few prospective adoptive parents seek out: physical or mental disabilities or emotional disorders or backgrounds of abuse or neglect.
The family lives in a 5,500-square-foot house in Holland. The children are even schooled there.
"We were running out of yard space because we’ve added on so often" to the house, Mrs. Nuzum, 45, said. Their home-to-be is on 11 acres.
Some parts of the house in Holland were built before the Civil War and have narrow doorways, making wheelchair passage impossible.
The children are getting bigger, Mrs. Nuzum said. And, Mr. Nuzum, 48, added: "Everything shrinks.’’
And they’ve come to the realization that a lot of their children won’t be leaving home when they grow up.
"If we can make their life more comfortable,’’ Mrs. Nuzum said, "that’s what we want to do.’’
The couple several years ago started looking at old school buildings, old nursing homes, old barns. They settled on a steel building because "we could get the wide open spaces we needed,’’ Mrs. Nuzum said.
Mr. Nuzum said: "This is plenty wide open.’’
Their contractor, Ron Wiechers, of Napoleon, found such a building in Colorado for sale after a church decided not to buy it. The building had to be shipped east in three pieces.
By necessity, this has become a community project. The Nuzums reached the end of their funds and loans. Financially, they rely on state and federal adoption subsidies.
"We didn’t know who to talk to," Mr. Nuzum said. "It makes me cry once in a while. You want to be responsible and take care of everything."
Tim Gruber of Ridge Stone Builders & Developers heard about the Nuzums. He, his wife, two sons, and daughter have elected as a family and as a family business to take on the task of finishing the inside, which he estimates will cost $200,000. He is donating his labor and working with other trades people to help. People, organizations, lumber yards, and home improvement stores have sent donations.
A crew of Amish carpenters from Indiana who do framing work for Ridge Stone donated their time and labor at the site yesterday.
"We’re hoping that with a lot of luck and a lot of giving, we’ll have the funds raised by February,’’ Mr. Gruber, 51, of Perrysburg, said. Five months later, this metal shell should be a home, he said.
"It’s a blessing,’’ Mr. Nuzum said, "because we were dead in the water. Now things are falling together.’’
The Nuzums have a Web site: www.nuzumfamily.org. They also have a link on the site of Adopt America Network, a private nonprofit group based in Toledo that handled many of the family’s adoptions. That group has set up an account as a clearinghouse for donations, which are tax-deductible if made through Adopt America.
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