Heads turned Monday, July 27, as a coach bus from New York City carrying young passengers arrived at Christ the King Lutheran Church on Mt Pleasant Road.

Soon spilling from the opening door were young guests who would spend a week with families in Newtown and nearby towns through The Fresh Air Fund.

As area coordinator Marie Athans and her husband Dave helped unload guests and get their luggage, words of greeting included comments from “Hello” and “Welcome back” to “Good to see you” and “You definitely got taller.”

Among those waiting on a shady spot of lawn were residents Heather Peck and her daughter Anna, who would soon welcome back Ashley Waterman for her fourth summer visit. Anna carried a handmade sign with streamers rippling from the bottom in a breeze. It read “Welcome back Ashley!”

Heather Peck looks forward to doing local things, she said, including hiking, swimming, and picking blueberries. Anna wants to swim the most because, “it’s really hot,” she said.

Also holding a sign beckoning to a guest they would be hosting for the first time were Fairfield residents Stephen and Kellie Panus and their sons Jake and Liam, the latter carrying the sign welcoming Ocean Pan. On the sign were boats, ice cream cones, butterflies, flowers, balloons and a birthday cake. Jake hopes the family and guest can make time for the beach this week.

Mr Panus said of their first time hosting, “It just seemed fun to do. I have no idea what to expect, but I’m excited.”

Also with a sign stretched across her windshield was Seymour resident Pat DeCicco, waiting for Quiyonna McGirt to hop off the bus. This is also her first year welcoming a Fresh Air Fund guest.

“I heard so much about it,” she said, and felt it wwas “time to get involved.” Ms DeCicco had spoken frequently with Quiyonna by phone, and has a busy visit planned.

“You don’t realize how much there is to do for kids in Connecticut until you look,” she said.

Leslie Xie of Weston also waited to great a guest for the first time. Overexcited, she had arrived early for the 3 pm bus. Her seven year old daughter was at home making a sign, while anticipating a visit filled with swimming, and pajama movie night at the Weston library.

Holding a red balloon and another sign were mother and daughter Fran and Bonnie Trelease of Oxford. Bonnie, 14, has a babysitting job and plans to bring guest Kadeja Johnson with her. She and her mother expect that the visit, their first time as a host family, will be an adventure.

According to FreshAir.org, since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund has provided free summer experiences in the country to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities. Fresh Air Fund children are boys and girls, ages 6 to 18, who live in New York City. The majority are from low-income communities. They typically live in apartment buildings, and are more familiar with busy city blocks than quiet country roads, but the kids who participate are like any other – they want to play, laugh, make new friends, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life away from the city.

Fresh Air Fund is a not-for-profit agency.