In 2019, Coleman Bailey traveled to nine countries, visiting about 30 orphanages with the nonprofit Serving Orphans Worldwide, based in Bristol, Tennessee.
The Rock Spring native has helped over 3,000 children, but his work isn't just limited to helping those abroad.
Last month, Bailey, 26, organized a Christmas tree sale at Mercy Ridge Church in Rossville, where his father, Tim Bailey, is the pastor. The sale was part of "Buy a Tree, Change a Life," a national campaign based in Homestead, Florida, that included 15 states and 44 participating sites this year.
The team at Mercy Ridge raised over $10,200.
From Nov. 25 to Dec. 7, trees were available outside the church for $55-$125, based on their size.
Contributed photo by Tim Bailey / From left, Coleman and Heather Bailey, Renee Shields and Tim Bailey buy $800 worth of toys and clothes to fulfill the wish lists of 20 foster care children in Walker County. The money came from a Christmas tree sale organized by Coleman Bailey.After the initial shutdown date, Tim Bailey said, "People just kept driving up and buying them." Generous community members also bought trees to be donated to needy families, he added.
Each one of the 200 trees sold was donated by local business sponsors, Coleman Bailey said, so 100% of the sales went to children in need. And all but 15 "Charlie Brown-esque" trees were sold, Tim Bailey said.
In mid-December, Tim, Coleman and a few volunteers purchased about $800 worth of toys and clothes on the wish lists of 20 foster care children with the Walker County Department of Family and Children Services.
The rest of the money will go toward Serving Orphans Worldwide, which funds and supports 60 orphanages in 27 countries. The funds could go toward helping families with adoption fees, care of children and maintenance of the facilities, Coleman Bailey said.
"It went far beyond what we expected," Tim Bailey said of the sale. "We're excited to see what we can do next year."
Email Sabrina Bodon at sbodon@timesfreepress.com.