You might call Biliana Borimetchkova the proprietor of Karina Cafe, although she buys or sells no products there.

The barter she uses is human kindness, served from a cadre of volunteer caregivers and therapists to children and young adults with developmental disabilities.

In her native Bulgaria, Borimetchkova was founder of a program that placed abandoned children with disabilities into group homes. After moving to the United States, she became a caregiver to a Towson girl who suffered from physical and intellectual disabilities. As she worked with the girl, Borimetchkova realized some young people with special needs — especially those reaching adulthood — might face an isolated existence as they age.

Two years later, in 2012, Borimetchkova opened Karina Cafe in the Worship Center of Mays Chapel United Methodist Church in Timonium.

Her vision for Karina — which is an acronym for knowledge, awareness, recognition, inclusion, nurturance and acceptance — was to create a place where young people with developmental disabilities could socialize while enjoying the fruits of expressive arts therapy.

“There is a huge gap in the mental health system for young people reaching the age of 18 and above,” she said. “The Karina Cafe model is cited as being one of the most effective methods in giving an individual with developmental disabilities the maximum opportunity to make developmental, functional and behavioral gains in early life.”

The program operates Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., while a new Monday version, held at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Parkville, conducts sessions from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

During the sessions participants with special needs are exposed to a variety of arts, including painting, photography, music/drum circle and poetry/storytelling, dance/movement and comedy.

Some of the volunteers have no background in caregiving other than knowing that their services are welcomed and needed.

Melissa Parker has been lending a hand at Karina Cafe for just over a month, but the Sparks resident knows first-hand about the difficulties of caring for kids with special needs, including her son, Luke, who has autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. The disorders are characterized by difficulties, in varying degrees, with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors, according to the website autism speaks.org.

“It's incredible what [Borimetchkova has] done here,” Parker said of the program. “She's giving kids a place where they can go and be themselves. It's a much-needed activity for kids — and caregivers and parents, as well.”

Will Rhodes, the executive director of the Karina Association, the umbrella organization that oversees the program, is working to get Karina Cafe qualified as a medical day care facility, which would open up a variety of funding possibilities for the nonprofit.

Currently, most of the program's funding comes from donations, fundraisers, grants, and a $977 fee for each of several therapies offered per season, Rhodes said.

The program runs two seasons — one from September through December, and another from February to June, Rhodes said. To lessen costs, Borimetchkova offers recreational activities for $12 per hour, she said.