Welcoming Fresh Air Guests

For A Summer Vacation In The Country

By Kendra Bobowick

(To protect their privacy, the Fresh Air Fund children in this story have been identified by their first names only.)

Moses stepped off the coach bus where Erin Hermann wrapped him in her arms. Ms Hermann, of Fairfield, and her children Quinn and Lucy were among the crowd of local and neighboring towns families waiting at Christ The King Lutheran Church in Newtown Monday for their Fresh Air Fund guests to arrive for a weeklong stay. The Fresh Air Fund is a nonprofit organization that provides summer experiences for inner-city children.

Also welcoming Andre for the third year were Susan and Paul Halsey of Ridgefield. When Andre walked toward them, Ms Halsey noted how tall he had grown. “He started out this high, and now he is taller than me!” she said. She also noticed the Yankees cap on his head. Wasn’t he a Mets fan, she asked?

“I had to buy it,” he laughed.

Mr Halsey warned Andre that his vacation would include some work this year. “We have a litter of nine puppies; we’ll need a little help.” Mr Halsey also manages a sports team. “Andre can help,” he said.

Anticipating a fun stay with his host family, Andre is interested in swimming, fishing, and baseball, he said.

As Teresa and Dave Patrick of Milford welcomed Isaiah back for a fourth visit, he was quick to hug brother and sister David and Stella Patrick as the group got Isaiah’s bags together.

Standing quietly in the shade was Aza, talking with her host and Newtown resident Mary Sireci. On her fourth visit, Aza looks forward this year to a picnic, pizza, and swimming. “That’s summer!” Ms Sireci agreed.

Newtown Youth Academy Director Keith Miller had spoken with some Fresh Air participants, including Ms Sireci, and felt, “It’s a great program.” The academy donated time and space for the Fresh Air Fund picnic this week, and also sponsored Aza’s participation in basketball camp.

Mr Miller said Tuesday, “They will have a get-together with families and kids.” He started talking with some of the families and felt it was a great organization. He said, “We are trying to help.” The Newtown Deli, which runs the NYA’s Sideline Café, is donating some of the picnic food.

On Tuesday Ms Sireci said, “Aza went to the basketball camp today and came back really happy. She is awesome, a happy kid.”

Local coordinator Marie Athans stood on the bus’s steps Monday looking down the aisle at eager young faces waiting to begin their rural summer stay while Fresh Air Fund Chairperson Karen Montagna helped the arriving guests get together with their families.

“We were early, no traffic!” said Ms Athans, who soon was escorting her guests Arturo and Austin toward the lawn where other children threw a football or played other games. While Austin is on his first visit, Arturo has returned for a fourth. “These are my boys,” Ms Athans said. “They are ready for home and the pool.”

Leaning toward Arturo, she asked, “What is it you like on the grill?”

“Hot dogs!” he said.

Also eager to reunite again this summer was Kayla, visiting Kendall Webb and her daughter Mickayla for a third time.

As the 4 pm bus arrival saw children pour from the coach’s opened doors, they ran for the lawn, scrambled to find familiar faces waiting to see them, and enjoyed the first minutes of their summer stay in Newtown and nearby towns.

According to the website FreshAir.org, since 1877 The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences in the country to more than 1.7 million New York City children from disadvantaged communities. Each year, thousands of children visit volunteer host families in 13 states and Canada through the Friendly Town Program or attend Fresh Air Fund camps.