Hundreds of orphans in Russia are better bundled against the cold this winter because of something unusual that happened in Lawrence.

It started last fall when Vernon Richardson and Connie Richardson, who lived near Clinton Lake with six young children, started planning a trip to eastern Russia to adopt more children.

The Richardsons had read it was a good idea to bring gifts. On a preliminary visit in September to the towns of Komsomolsk and Khabarovsk, they brought knitted hats and booties made by members of Connie’s extended family.

Both Connie and Vernon have large extended families, and it’s a common practice in their religion — the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — to donate to humanitarian efforts.

But during their visit, the Richardsons realized the orphanages there needed more warm accessories than they’d brought. They also felt a bond with the children, many of whom came up to them saying “Mama” and “Papa.”

“So many of them just want to be in a family so bad,” said Vernon Richardson, 36, an associate professor of accounting and information systems at Kansas University.

When the Richardsons returned to Lawrence, they put out a call for handmade scarves and hats.

“We really didn’t make an effort,” said Connie Richardson, 34, a full-time mother with a degree in music from Brigham Young University. “We told some friends and family members. We mentioned it in our 4-H club. We just made an offer and the snowballs began to roll.”

Connie Richardson is offered crackers from Rebecca, 4, and Matthew, 2, as Rachel, 3, eats during snacktime. The Richardsons donated hats, scarves and booties to Russian orphanages before adopting the three children. Vernon, the children's father, sits on the couch with Benjamin, one of the couple's six biological children.

Boxes arrived by mail and on their doorstep. A giant mound of multicolored fleece grew in their bedroom.

When the Richardsons returned to Russia in early January, they brought two four-foot high boxes stuffed with goods including — but not limited to — the following:

• About 120 fleece hats and scarves made by girls’ youth groups at their church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3655 W. 10th St.
• About 35 handmade educational games made of colorful pictures, velcro and file folders. These also came from church members.
• About 100 hats and scarves made by the family’s 4-H club, the Clinton Eagles.


Alison Richardson, wearing a scarf similar to ones her family donated to Russian orphanages, plays with her newly adopted brother Matthew.

• Another 100 hats made by a home-economics class at Lawrence High School whose teacher attends the Richardsons’ church.
• About 100 pairs of baby booties made by one of the Richardsons’ family members in Arizona.
• Donated toiletries, such as soap and bandages.

They estimate they provided enough scarves, hats, toiletries and educational games for about 600 children at six orphanages in two cities.

Their boxes aroused curiosity as they passed through security checkpoints en route to Moscow. Asked to describe the reaction of people at the orphanage when they saw the boxes, Connie dropped her jaw.

“We tried to explain where it all came from. I don’t think they could understand,” she said.

The Richardsons returned Jan. 30 to Lawrence with three adopted children — Michael Dmitri, 2, Rachel Oksana, 3 and Rebecca Natalya, 4. They’re not only new members of their family, but living reminders that volunteering helps real people, even if they’re in far-off places.

“It’s very personal for us,” Vernon said. “We have a strong connection knowing we gave the best and continue to try to give the best to Russian children.”