News & Features
July 2005

COLD WARMS HEARTS
Local effort helps children of Siberia
By Michele Connor

Dear Friends,

As some of you may know, Wally and I are planning to visit our friends in Abakhan, in South Central Siberia again this summer in August. We will be attending the wedding of our friend Zhenya Glukhova (she calls herself "Jane"). Included in our plans, of course, will be a visit to the beautiful children of the Maternity Home and the Yoletchka Children's Home in Abakhan. We are planning to bring with us some money to buy some specific things that are needed by the children. On our last visit, we purchased exercise equipment, camping equipment, toys and games, dishes and cups and serving items, a VCR and video tapes as well as clothing and personal care items. We are asking you to please empty your pockets, pass up that Latte on the way to work, and make a small sacrifice to help these lovely children.

Your much appreciated cash donations can be dropped off at the Brookfield Fire Station on Central Street, or mailed to "Socks For Siberia" 122 Long Hill Road, Brookfield, MA 01506. Donations should be received by Aug. 5. Checks may be made payable to "Socks For Siberia." Cards, letters and photos for the children are most welcome!!!

Please know that we pay for our travel with our own money and EVERY PENNY that is donated goes directly to the children. The love and care of their friends in America mean so very much to them.

Following is the letter that we recently received from our friends in far away Siberia. Zhenya has sent us this letter and some pictures of the children from the Director of the Maternity Home. As wonderful as it is to see some beautiful familiar little faces, now two years older, it is heartbreaking to know that these facilities will likely be the only homes they ever know. You can see that the staff does their best to give them a full life with what they have. Though the letter addresses Wally and I personally, it is certainly meant for all of you, as we could not do what we do to help them without YOUR helping us! I have made no changes to the letter, as I personally find the mistakes in grammar very charming!

Michele and Wally Connor

My Dear Wally and Michelle!

This letter is devoted to You. It is written by the teachers of the Children's Home (for little ones) to thank You for your great help. I'll translate it.

Dear Wally and Michelle!

Thank you very much for the presents! You are the first who gave us a hand-sent clothes, toys, things for drawing and modeling! You know, you are the only one who did it. Sometimes people take our children to the families, but still we have 50 children (under 6 years) in our Children's Home, most of them invalids. How much we needed those toys and things for developing children! Children ate all the tasty candies with pleasure on Holidays. All the T-shorts, hats, mittens, jeans combinations (Is this the right word? - : Jane) fit them perfectly! Here are some photos for You we have now.

Thank you very much!

So, this is the letter from Children's Home for little ones. The next mail - the letter from Children's Home Yoletchka!

Love,
Jane