Patricia's Big Heart
Citizen of the USA has built a Home in Donbas; She raises sons and was
awarded with Gorlov medal.

By Irina Kozhentsova

The City Soviet Awarded the Generosity with a "Silver" Medal
Elegant and Stylish, successful businesswoman and young looking mother of a big family, Patricia Barnes being a hostess was putting together Christmas bouquets. Bright compositions of chrysanthemum, roses and carnations filled one vase after another: guests were expected in a two-storied residence and nice US citizen was striving to share with everyone there her good mood.

This is not her first time in Gorlovka, but she has never been here on such special holiday. No need to say, that she has never before received a silver medal named after the founder of the city Peter Gorlov from the Mayor of Gorlovka City Ivan Sakharchuk. Only those who have done something special in the city life, added a new story to a contemporary chronicles of Donbas city are awarded with this type of medal. Only the achievement, for which this American woman was awarded according to the resolution of the session of the City Soviet is unique not only to our region, but to the whole country of Ukraine. Doubting? Try to remember where else in the expanse of our country by the effort of one person with a foreign passport has a specially equipped Home been opened for foster families and their foster children to comfortably live in it?!

Audacious Idea
Patricia first heard about Ukraine from missionaries that lived in Gorlovka and have taken care of a group of little orphans. Barnes couple has four children and a few grandchildren and it seemed like it's about time to enjoy your life, but little children abandoned by their parents somewhere oversees have touched Patricia's heart so much that she couldn't think about anything but them. Concerns only couldn't help solve the problem and she started a campaign. About four years ago she presented with audacious idea to the Mayor: "I want," she said, "to buy an abandoned building in downtown and reconstruct it into a wonderful place for children that don't have families." Those who know our legislation may think it's utopia, but our City Soviet though with a portion of skepticism has supported hearty impulse of Mrs. Barnes and the Mayor of Gorlovka became her ally. And a lasting epic has begun. With all the bureaucratic red tape and process was taking place, Patricia found time to become a mother to a Ukrainian boy Alyosha. The father of this three year old boy is unknown and his mother has been murdered. The only perspective Alyosha could have had would be orphanage life.

"We are so happy Alex is with us. I am doing everything possible for Alex to remember his motherland. It is very hard to maintain the vocabulary without any language surroundings, but last summer I came together with him to Gorlovka and we spent a lot of time with people here. He hasn't become a one hundred percent American boy yet and before I left home this time, I cooked a big pot of borsch for him which he loves to eat as a true Ukrainian," told us Patricia with a joyful laugh. By the way, she made her career in bakery and baked here for the holidays a variety of rolls.

I don't know with what "donuts" she persuades her countrymen to participate, but wealthy Americans supported her idea. Shortly charitable fund "Sasha's Home" was registered in Ukraine. It's a special place where there is not even a hint to an orphanage institution. I am not talking about the quality of construction work, winter garden or furniture that was shipped from America specially for Sasha's Home…Fund is paying all the utility costs giving the apartments to be rented for free by the families that are ready to foster children and raise them with love and care.

Apartments in Sasha's Home
Middle age people successfully passed all possible inspections in order to take children from orphanages and shelters have occupied most of the apartments. All apartments are furnished and equipped with all necessary items. Parents are supposed to concentrate on raising children (those who have any would know what I mean by that). Those parents who don't' work receive state support.

So here they are. Sergey and Ludmila Korotya raising two biological children added two foster children. Victoriya and her son accepted two little ones to make them part of their family. Dovzhenko couple came to Sasha's Home with three children for a short period of time, for later they added three more!!! Igor and Tatyana Miroshinichenko amaze us with their desire and active belief that children should live in a family. They, having two children of their own, added five more to raise and now they are the only "family" unit of their type in Gorlovka, Ukraine.

* Article translated to English