In December 2007, an issue of Grazia Magazine mysteriously found it’s way through a mail slot in Southwest London. In that instant hundreds of forgotten children in Bulgaria had reason to hope. The woman on the other side of that mail slot was Melora Johnson, a wife and mother living with her husband and three children. The shocking photographs and powerful story she found in that magazine touched her heart so deeply that she in turn has touched the hearts of hundreds of Bulgarian orphans.

The inspiration

The focus of the story that now haunted Melora was a film by Kate Blewett, A BBC documentary filmmaker. Kate spent six months documenting the lives of children in Mogolino - an orphanage in rural Bulgaria. Neglect, abuse and starvation were just some of the horrific realities of life in the orphanage. Kate’s film and Mogolino received a great deal of attention, so much so that through a flood of volunteerism and an outcry of public protest, steps are now being taken to improve their lives. But Bulgaria has many orphanages. The Bulgarian government states there are approximately 10,000 children institutionalized. Experts estimate the actual number may be twice that.

The journey

Over the days, weeks and months that followed, Melora found it impossible to ignore what she had seen and read. Melora’s mother and grandmother had immigrated to the United States from Bulgaria. She somehow felt inextricably linked to these children. As if each of them had called out her name for help. Determined to take action, she met with Kate Blewett and made contact with orphanages and organizations in Bulgaria. In April 2008, she traveled there to see with her own eyes the children she so desperately wanted to help. She was forever changed.

Love is contagious

Upon her return to England, Melora began contacting friends and family in order to raise money and to shine a brighter light on the issue. The response has been overwhelming. She has not only raised nearly £10,000 for the children but she has also inspired a team of generous, caring and talented women to join in a new effort to create long-lasting fundraising projects. These women are committed to changing the lives of the thousands of Bulgarian orphans who deserve to be safe, healthy and most of all, loved.

Please support the cause by buying The Tabitha - the first Helping Handbag.