Enjoying The Fresh Air ––

Local Families Looking Forward To City Guests

By Larissa Lytwyn

She said couldn’t wait to do it again.

This is the second year Karen Pierce and her children, Tim, 8, and Danielle, 10, have hosted a New York City visitor through the Fresh Air Fund, an independent, nonprofit agency providing free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million inner children throughout the Northeast and Canada.

Their host child, Michelle, 9, also participated in the program last year. “I’m excited,” she said. “We’re going to go out for ice cream, go swimming, all kinds of things,” said Danielle. “Last year, the boy we sponsored didn’t want to leave!”

“Well, I hope you come back every year to see us,” said Ms Pierce, smiling, to Michelle. The small girl smiled shyly back.

This year’s program featured families representing towns including Bethel, New Milford, Southbury, Ridgefield, Redding, Fairfield, Trumbull, Orange, and others. First-time hosts are encouraged to sponsor one child; they may welcome more in consecutive seasons. The agency endeavors to match the ages of city children with the ages of the host family’s brood. Fresh Air Fund children range from ages 6 to 18. While some visitors are first-time Connecticut visitors, others may have returned to visit host families for successive summers. More than 65 percent of all children are reinvited to stay with host families year after year.

“It’s just a wonderful program,” said Ms Pierce. “We’re looking forward to having the experience again.”

For more information about the Fresh Air Fund, call toll-free 800-367-0003 or visit www.freshairfund.org.