Three Russian orphans still need parents_80904

Posted: 8/06/04

Three Russian orphans still need parents

Anastasya, 13 Nicknamed "Nastya," she was born in October 1990 in Leningrad. A talented performer, singer and dancer, she likes fruits, potatoes, spaghetti, cheese and beef. During the Angels from Abroad trip, she said she enjoyed her host family and their children, learning how to operate a washer and dryer, and swimming.	Galina, 10 Born in St. Petersburg, "Galya" also is a talented performer who likes cheese, bananas, apples, chicken and potatoes. Her orphanage caregivers describe her as "merry and sociable" and her favorite things about her Angels visit were her host family, their children and dog and "playing outside."	Sergey, 13 A St. Petersburg native, Sergey has an "amazing voice" and his caregivers describe him as a "happy, social and responsible" boy who likes fruits, cheese and sweets. He especially enjoyed seeing all the tall buildings in Dallas and going to a Texas Rangers baseball game.

DALLAS–Nearly two months following their visit to North Texas, three Buckner “angels from abroad”–orphan children from St. Petersburg, Russia–have yet to be matched with prospective parents in the United States.

The three were among 18 orphans who traveled to the United States for a two-week stay sponsored by Buckner Orphan Care International as part of its Angels from Abroad initiative. The children stayed with volunteer host families in North Texas.

The Angels from Abroad trip was planned to “raise awareness about the needs of older children living in Russian orphanages and Buckner Orphan Care International's programs to improve their lives,” said Tiffany Taylor of Buckner.

The program was so successful that many families committed to adopt internationally through Buckner International Adoption.

Many of the orphans were matched to prospective parents since the trip, but three remain on referral and are in “urgent need of adoption,” said Mary Ann Hamby of Buckner International Adoption.

Galina, 10, and Anastasya, 13, both girls, and Sergey, a 13-year-old boy (see below), are available immediately for adoption to families through Buckner, said Hamby. “Galina, Anastasya and Sergey represent the urgent need to find families for older children ages 7 and above and for sibling groups. There are many more children in Russia and Guatemala who need a home and family in addition to these three.”

The urgent nature of the adoption need is both physical and emotional, said Hamby, who also is an adoptive parent.

“Every day these children live in an orphanage, they are deprived of the resources, love and nurture a family provides.”

For more information about international adoption, Buckner hosts several international adoption orientations throughout the year for interested families. The orientation, held at the Buckner International Adoption offices at 4830 Samuell Blvd. in Dallas, is an opportunity for families to learn about the international adoption process.

Upcoming orientations are scheduled in Dallas on Aug. 31, Sept. 24, Oct. 26, Nov. 12 and Dec. 14. For more information about orientations or the three "angels," contact Sharon Hedrick at shedrick@buckner.org or toll-free at (866) 236-7823. Information also may obtained at www.bucknerinternationaladoption.org.