Observed on the second Sunday in November, Orphan Sunday is a holiday that encourages everyone to advocate for orphans. It’s a day that urges people to give their time and money to help orphans.

It’s also a day when people are encouraged to thank the thousands of caregivers around the world who work with orphans. Additionally, people are encouraged to spread the word about this holiday and support the cause of helping orphans. If we all come together on this day, we can give more orphaned children a better chance at a better life.

The History of Orphan Sunday

The origins of this holiday can be traced back to the end of the 20th century and an American missionary to Africa named Gary Schneider. It was inspired by an appeal from a pastor in a local community in Zambia, who encouraged people to engage with the orphan crisis in the country.

Despite their poverty, the residents showed their support by donating their clothes and shoes. Schneider was moved by the gesture and decided to assist Zambian leaders in caring for Zambian orphans by spreading the news about it.

In 2003, this initiative spread to the U.S. Until 2014, this holiday was observed on the first Sunday in November. It was then changed to the second Sunday in November and was observed on this date for the first time in 2015. It has been observed on this day ever since and will likely continue to be observed at this time in the foreseeable future.

Facts About Orphans

Let’s examine some facts and statistics about orphans. We hope the following information proves informative to everyone reading it.

• A child can be considered an orphan not only if they have two deceased parents. Orphans are categorized as being without parental care.
• In 2014, over 140 million children worldwide lost one or both of their parents.
• In 2016, U.S. families adopted approximately 5,300+ children from other countries.
• Americans adopt the highest number of children from China, Congo, Ukraine, and South Korea.

Observing Orphan Sunday

On this day, people can take time to observe this holiday by finding out what they can do to help orphans. Each person will celebrate this day in their own way. Some people prefer to donate money, while others feel they should donate their time. No matter how a person observes Orphan Sunday, they should take the time to spread the word about it using the hashtag #OrphanSunday on social media.