Search » Advanced

Sacred Portion looking for host families

By BETH SLOVIC Chronicle Staff Writer

About one year ago, Liz and Richard Barton went to a presentation by the local nonprofit organization Sacred Portion Children's Outreach, and their lives changed dramatically.


 The founders of the group - which facilitates international adoptions of older children - were looking for families in the Bozeman area to host orphans for a few weeks that summer. The hope was that the families would then consider adopting them, as several did.

This year, Sacred Portion plans to bring 10 orphans from the Philippines to Bozeman for four weeks in July and August, and it needs families considering adoption to host the children. Adults who are interested in introducing children to other families are also encouraged to be hosts.

Now in its fourth year, the Summer Miracles program has brought 49 children from the Philippines, Russia and Kazakhstan to the Gallatin Valley. Of those, 40 have been adopted by families here, said Craig Druckenmiller, who founded Sacred Portion with his wife, Jan.

On Thursday, the Druckenmillers received an e-mail from the Philippine Intercounty Adoption Board authorizing the children to make the trek.

The group has two weeks to secure families for the children, who are not told of the program until plans are firm. Three families have already volunteered, but Druckenmiller would like seven more, he said.

If homes for them are found, the children will arrive July 10. Many of them speak English quite well, Druckenmiller said.

Liz Barton said she and her husband had been thinking about adoption for many years, but there never seemed to be enough time to do it, she said.

Last year's presentation by Sacred Portion convinced the couple to sign on, she said.

The couple ended up hosting three Filipino children - Jane, 14, Joseph, 12 and Leonora, 8 - whom they have now adopted.

Along with the Barton's two biological children, Tessa, 11, and Joel, 8, the three adopted children attend the Springhill Community School, and they are adjusting well.

"They're really acclimated to American culture," Barton said, "The transition has been pretty smooth."

Anyone who is interested in participating should call Sacred Portion at 586-5773 by May 25.

Beth Slovic is at beth@dailychronicle.com

Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of The Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Please read our Online Users Agreement.
You must register with a valid e-mail to post comments on BozemanDailyChronicle.com. Only your Member ID will be posted with your comments. Posts that violate our Online User Agreement will be edited or removed.

Login:

Become a Registered User

Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
E-mail Address:
Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

First Name:
Last Name:
Company:
Home Phone:
Business Phone:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Web site:
 

Printer friendly version Subscribe