Turley Publications photo by Jennifer Grybowski


Kelley Arseanault, of Millbury, and her daughter Lexi, 3, enjoy the music at the Socks for Siberia, Inc. 4^th Annual Spring Family Festival Saturday.


‘Socks for Siberia’ organization continues to grow

By Jennifer Grybowski
Turley Publications Reporter

STURBRIDGE – The rain may have been coming down, but that didn’t stop locals – and 52 volunteers - from heading to Hyland Orchard on Saturday to support the Socks for Siberia, Inc. 4^th Annual Spring Family Festival.

“We’ve had a pretty steady crowd, even in spite of the weather,” said founder Michele Connor. “We have lots of friends and supporters who come out no matter what.”

The festival included live music, children’s games, face painting, a pie-eating contest, sack races, a silent auction, festival raffle items, Rooski raffle items and handmade items from Russia. Picnic fare was cooked by the Brookfield Fire Battalion.

Since 1999, Socks for Siberia has provided assistance to orphaned children in various children’s homes in the regions of Khakassia and Krasnoyarsk in Siberia. The organization was founded by Michele and Wally Connor, of Brookfield, after they visited an orphanage in Abakan and realized the great need for even basic necessities for the children.

Funds raised through the festival, and throughout the year through other various campaigns, are wired to volunteers in Russia. This is much better, Michele said, than buying supplies here and shipping them to the volunteers, as they had been doing in the past.

“We are being better stewards of people’s money by wiring it to our volunteers there,” Michele said. “The postage was just getting to be too much. And we are supporting the local community there as well.”

Typical items donated to the orphanages include food, school supplies, clothes and winter coats, bedding, recreational equipment and holiday/birthday gifts. Socks for Siberia has done so well helping out the children in the first town, they have been able to branch out to other orphanages.

“There is lots going on,” Michele said. “It’s growing and growing.”

While the Socks for Siberia group was in Russia last summer for their regular bi-annual visit, orphanage administrators said the children had been asking for soccer equipment so that they could apply to play in a local tournament. So Socks for Siberia donated balls, cleats, shin guards and socks. The children named their team “Chance” because they were given a chance to play. They won the local tournament and traveled – by train and plane, which many of the children had never done before – to the national tournament, where they also won. They have now been invited to London to participate in an international tournament in October. Michele, Wally and two other members of the Socks for Siberia board will be traveling to England to support them.

“The kids were so grateful to receive the equipment,” Michele said. “Talk about making a difference in their lives.”

Michele said her goal for this year is to continue to raise awareness about Socks for Siberia’s mission to an international level.

“I’m going to be putting on the full court press,” she said.

She is going to attempt to contact some national news programs, such as the Today Show and Oprah, to see if they will feature the work of Socks for Siberia.

“My dream is to have someone like Matt Lauer or Ann Curry join us in London,” she said.

She said anyone who can help her make this dream come true should contact her at (508) 637-1248 or at www.socksforsiberia.org.

Slowly but surely, Socks for Siberia is already achieving a national reach.

Wendy Wilson, of Crofton, MD., and her family, including 5-year-old Nicolas who was adopted from Siberia, try to attend the festival and support the Connors every year.

“I think it’s fabulous to have a group of people that care so much,” Wilson said. “The poverty is really striking. These children really have nothing. It makes their life to have somebody to care about them. You can’t bring them all home, so it’s nice to send some back.”

Jennifer and Terrence Connor, of Rocky Mount, N.C., faithfully show up three days before the festival each year to help.

“This is how we give back,” Jennifer said. “We have chosen to put all of our time, effort and money into this charity.”

Jim Jackson, a cousin of Wally’s, is riding his bicycle around the world. Before he left, he decided to pair up with Socks for Siberia, and make it a charity ride. People can sponsor him or make donations to him, which will be donated to Socks for Siberia. He has taken fliers and brochures along the route with him and is spreading the word about their work.

Pamela Shaw, representative for the Educational Homestays Program, was at the festival, talking to locals about the program. She said that since the seed for Socks for Siberia was planted when the Connors hosted an exchange student more than 20 years ago, it was a natural partnership.

“The fact that they had such a positive experience really embodies what we do,” Shaw said. “Our mission is to break down the barriers of language, culture and geography.”

For every person that signed up to host a foreign student this summer, the Educational Homestays Program donated $25 to Socks for Siberia. If six families sign up, they will increase the donation to $50 per family. Shaw said that if anyone interested in hosting a family references this article, it will count toward the festival total. She can be reached at pamela.shaw@ef.com or (617) 233-7467.