Fresh Air Fund Seeks Local Host Families

By Jan Howard

The Fresh Air Fund is looking for local residents to give the gift of a summer vacation to a child who might not have one. Somewhere in New York City there are children who have never known the fun of a summer night chasing fireflies, hiking to a hilltop to see a waterfall, or riding a horse.

Several area residents opened their homes to disadvantaged New York City children last year. The Fresh Air Fund wants to reach additional volunteer host families this year so more children will experience the joys of country life in a friendly, home environment. In just a two-week period, from July 7 to July 21, city children can have an entire new world opened up to them through an unforgettable summer vacation.

Hosts can request a boy or a girl, as well as the approximate age of the child. There are no financial requirements to host a child.

Children on first-time visits are 6 to 12 years old and stay in volunteers’ homes for two weeks. Re-invited youngsters may continue to visit through age 18. Over 65 percent of all children are invited back by the same families, year after year. Many have extended visits or spend the entire summer.

Brianna, 11, is returning to Newtown for her fifth summer vacation at the home of Charlene and Bill Weber and their children, Jesse, Jason, and Bethany.

Bill Weber said the family usually makes plans to go to Cape Cod or do something special locally while Brianna is here. This year a visit to Sturbridge Village is part of the summer schedule.

Mr Weber said Brianna also likes hiking, bike riding, rollerblading, and going to the beach.

“She really likes to swim and enjoys the pool,” he said.

He said Brianna’s mother, a single parent, has a teaching job now and is in a better financial position. “They have their feet on the ground,” he said.

“Her mother realizes it’s a good opportunity for Brianna to get out of the city,” Mr Weber said.

His whole family is looking forward to Brianna’s visit, he said. “She fits right in. She’s a lot of fun. We wish they had a winter program. We always talk about going, but we’ve never gotten into New York City to see her.”

In between visits, the Webers and Brianna keep in touch through letters, telephone calls, and cards. At Christmas time, the family sends Brianna a gift.

Kathleen and William Hart and their daughters, Alex, Brianna, and Colleen became first-time Fresh Air hosts last summer when 9-year-old Jocelyn visited them.

Jocelyn will return in July. “We talked to her last week, and she’s coming again,” Mrs Hart said. “She will celebrate her tenth birthday when she’s with us.”

Mrs Hart said that many New York City children would not have a vacation without the Fresh Air program. “Many would not get out of their apartments all summer without it. They would have to stay inside because it’s not safe outside,” she said. “This two weeks is really different from what they would have the rest of the summer.

“One of the things we thought about last year was how great this would be for our kids to meet someone from another way of life. But they’re all just children. They all play games together. She’s just another kid that stayed in our house that they like.”

Mrs Hart said the visit last year was a good experience. “It says a lot for these kids. It takes a lot to go to a stranger’s home for two weeks and blend into a new family. It says how much they want to do this.”

Because Jocelyn was away from home for the first time last year, Mrs Hart thought she ight be upset or lonely. “Surprisingly this child just blended in. She was up for anything. There was not much of an adjustment.”

During the second week, there was a time when Mrs Hart felt Jocelyn was a little homesick. But at the end of the two-week stay, Jocelyn surprised them by wanting to stay longer.

“Jocelyn comes from a really nice family, and unlike many other children she comes from an intact family,” Mrs Hart said. “She adapted quickly. We loved having her and are looking forward to seeing her again.”

Jocelyn loves swimming, Mrs Hart said. “She’d like to go to the Park & Rec camp. I really want her to learn how to swim.”

Last year the family took Jocelyn to Kent Falls. “That was fun. We hiked up to the falls, and the kids went in the water. It was so cold.”

Jocelyn also enjoyed the fireworks on July 4 and horseback riding camp, Mrs Hart said.

“You don’t have to plan events,” Mrs Hart said. “Jocelyn was excited to go to Stew Leonard’s. Her favorite thing she really enjoyed was the pool, and running in the sprinkler.”

Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a non-profit agency, has helped more than 1.6 million children, who otherwise would not experience it, to enjoy summer in the country. This year, close to 6,000 children will visit volunteer host families in suburbs and small towns across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.

The tradition began when the Rev Willard Parsons, the minister of a small parish in Pennsylvania, asked his parishioners to provide a country vacation for New York City children.

The program provides all transportation and arranges for payment of any medical expenses for children without insurance. It also provides liability insurance for hosts and volunteers.

Children are selected based on financial need and are registered by 50 participating social service organizations in New York City.

Members of a local volunteer committee approve hosts after reviewing their applications, visiting their homes, and checking their personal references.

Mr Weber and Mrs Hart and their families highly recommend the Fresh Air Program to others.

 “There is nothing negative about it,” Mr Weber said.

“If anybody is thinking of doing it, I say go ahead and give it a try,” Mrs Hart said. “The return rate is high so something good is definitely happening. When you balance the extra work against the enormity of what you’re giving that kid, it makes any inconvenience in comparison not a big deal.”

To learn more about how you can share the simple joys of summer with an inner-city youngster by being a Fresh Air Fund host, contact local Chairman Susan Dann at 203/790-1465 or call the Fresh Air Fund at 800/367-0003.