Guests Arrive For A Visit And ‘Fresh Air’

By Kendra Bobowick

From beneath her umbrella’s hint of shade, resident and Fresh Air Fund coordinator Marie Athans greeted children arriving in town for a summer visit Tuesday afternoon.

Minutes later, as families from Newtown and surrounding towns arrived at the Christ The King Lutheran Church on Tory Lane, she shuffled visiting children into the shade where they talked, listened to music, and waited to start their summer vacations for a week away from New York City’s heat. With packed bags and curious faces, children, including Sarayah Shar, 9, were ready for a break and some country fun. Sarayah sat with Gaby, 14, and her mother Dor Lindade, who soon drove back to Shelton with plans for minigolf and fishing.

With her birthday coming on July 28, Sarayah, who has been to Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Canada through the Fresh Air Fund in past years, is hoping for an early celebration with the Lindades.

Ms Athans will be saying goodbye this week to her recent guest Aaron Jimenez, who spent his time in town “swimming a lot,” he said.

Wearing a pink and white Hello Kitty T-shirt and tugging at her hair, Abigail Cabrera, visiting for the first time, was eager to get her vacation started. “I want to swim and ride a horse and feed the animals,” she said.

Brothers Jack and Mario O’Brien of Ridgefield waited at the church with their mother Ann, who was anxious to retrieve her guest and get the boys to their baseball game.

Irene Peng sat listening to music, wearing white-rimmed dark sunglasses. She has been visiting a Monroe family for seven years. She “loves it,” and looks forward to tennis on this visit. She would “definitely recommend” families and city children to get together through the Fresh Air Fund, she said.

Arriving for her third visit was Andrea Chavez, who soon met up with Rose Spielman and her daughter Tess McConnell and headed for Cheshire.

As the area coordinator, Mr Athans is still hoping to match children with local families for August dates. Contact Ms Athans at 203-426-7137.

Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund has been giving inner-city children the joy of a summer vacation with volunteer host families and at Fresh Air Fund camps, creating unforgettable memories and fresh possibilities. Learn more at FreshAir.org.