James “Thuggie” and Patricia Taylor, of Verona, have always had a special place in their hearts for giving to those in need. Even before they were wed, some 47 years ago, they would help children in the Hill District by providing them with food, taking them to the park and even buying the children clothes when they barely had bread on their own table.
Now, more than four decades and four adult children, 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren later, the Taylors are still reaching out to those in need by providing a loving home and a sense of family to those who, unfortunately, are unfamiliar with those concepts.
For 23 years the Taylors have opened up their hearts, lives and home as foster parents to 11 youth in the Allegheny County Children, Youth and Families system through Pressley Ridge, an organization that works to serve young people and families in six states who have not been successful in other environments. Of those 11 youth, the Taylors have adopted five. And what makes their story even more heart warming is that while most people are looking to open their homes to babies, the Taylors, who are an interracial couple by most people’s standards and just a normal, loving couple by their own, opened their home to African-American pre-teens or teenagers, an age group that is often overlooked or undesired.
“I don’t look at race and to have Black children, I’m proud. We wouldn’t have it any other way. Those are our boys, and Thuggie and I, we’re proud of each one of them,” Patricia, who is White, said about her family. “All our matches with children have been good. I have not been disappointed and would not change one thing about these past 23 years. I have been blessed. My blessings aren’t small, they’re big.”
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