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Gladney Helps Guatemala Victims

By Terri Rimmer

The Gladney Center for Adoption in Fort Worth, TX is pulling together to help children involved in a natural disaster in Guatemala who have been adopted through the years from the center.

“We would like to encourage our families to respond to a request for monetary donations,” said Gladney President Mike McMahon in a letter to Gladney auxiliary families. “Gladney is very sympathetic to the plight of those that have been affected by this weather-related disaster.”

Recently Guatemala suffered severe rains and flooding after Hurricane Stan hit that area.

“Fortunately, all Gladney families and children have been reported to be okay,” wrote Kelley McCreery Bunkers, local representative of Gladney in Guatemala. “I would like to suggest that we raise funds to be targeted towards the needs of children.”

Bunkers stated in her letter that she realized the need for funds in other parts of the world and the U.S. is needed but due to the agency’s deep connection to Guatemala she believed all donors should show their support.

Gladney has humanitarian projects in Guatemala, Russia, China, and Romania. The Guatemala project is called Home of Homes and was started in 1991 by volunteers so that children there could have a home.

Founded more than a century ago Gladney, a licensed not-for-profit organization, has a reputation for their long-standing success in national and international adoptions.

There are access to support groups, parenting education, post adoption counseling, and legal help for prospective adoptive parents and some birth moms live on campus in the dorm at the center, which got new digs three years ago on the west side after being located near downtown Fort Worth for decades.

Each birth mom has a caseworker, is involved in social activities coordinated by center staff, may receive counseling, support group assistance, legal services, school assistance, career development help, post adoption support, and free medical attention.

Birth fathers have access to adoption assistance, the decision-making in the adoptive process, and access to post-adoption services.

This summer Gladney hosted Chinese government officials at their campus where the parties were educated about adoptions in China. While visiting they got the chance to meet families who had adopted children from that country.

Recently Gladney also received Russian re-accreditation to perform adoption in the Russian Federation.

For more information go to gladney.org.

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