Seeking Fresh Air Hosts—

Welcome A City Child To Newtown This Summer

By Kendra Bobowick

She is sharing Newtown.

To the child from New York City who will again visit resident Marie Athans’ home this summer, “It is a whole other world,” she said.

As a Fresh Air Fund volunteer, Ms Athans hopes the young man, “Arturo” can take advantage of not only the outdoor beauty the town offers in its trails, lakes, and parks, but wants to share the comforts of home.

She also hopes other residents will give a city child a taste of the country in coming weeks. “One more [volunteer] is one more, right! Hopefully we’ll get one more,” she said. As a local Fresh Air representative, Ms Athans encourages residents to learn more about the program. “You don’t need a lot of money. You really don’t see a change [in budget],” she said. While some families may opt to take day trips to amusement parks, for example, just a simple week or two spent around town will be a change for a child accustomed to an inner city.

Fresh Air Executive Director Jenny Morgenthau explained, “We stress to host families that they don’t necessarily have to do anything elaborate. Do what you normally do because that’s a new experience for the Fresh Air kids who don’t have a backyard or a community pool.’

Offering an example, she described what at first appears to be an ordinary event. The family was out for a ride in their convertible and the child had been looking up. The child started screaming. “He had never seen stars,” she said. Making her point, she explained, “It’s education and it’s letting kids know that it’s a big world out there.”

Families often tell Ms Morgenthau, “You get as much as you give — it’s important for a child to get out of the city and the hot apartment and be a child.” Ms Athans speaks first-hand about even the simple, small ways in which a city child’s eyes are opened. “For them to even play in the grass is something.” Speaking of her own guest who will arrive next month, she said, “There is nothing like that where Arturo lives.” Even a tag sale proved to be a big difference. Coming from someone who values each possession, she explained, “He thought it was funny that people would sell their things.”

Ms Morgenthau also offers insights into the children’s perspectives. “They’ll say, ‘No guns?’ ‘No drugs?’ ‘No one stole my baseball glove?’” And bar none, she said that the children love swimming. “There is not a lot of opportunity to swim in a city, and for the younger children there is not a lot of opportunity to go out by yourself.”

Ms Athans can vouch for the swimming. “It was obvious the day [Arturo] went I the pool that he could not swim, but the next day when he was swimming; he was so happy.”

This summer she is planning on nature walks and catching crawfish in the river. In the past she has taken him to a farm and stopped for ice cream. With two daughters who no longer live at home, she said, “I have a nice home here; it’s almost like an empty nest and I have no one to share it with and no children to use all this.” Several years ago Ms Athans had learned about the Fresh Air Fund and decided to volunteer as a host. “What better way to share what I have with someone who doesn’t?” she asked.

“Open your home to an inner city child,” states a brochure publicizing the program.

Get In Touch

A family can contact Newtown’s Fresh Air representative Marie Athans at 203-426-7137 or the New York office at 800-367-0003 to express interest in hosting a child. Applicants will fill out paperwork and an employee or volunteer from the organization will conduct an interview at their home. Applicants are subject to a background check.

Dates of upcoming visits are July 8 to July 22 and August 6 to August 15. The two closest towns where children will be dropped off and picked up are Monroe and Danbury.

For residents who would like to host this summer in July, it is best to have the application in by the beginning of June. Applications should be in by the beginning of July for those who would like to host in August. Ideally, it is best to register as soon as possible, for a better chance of being matched with a child who fits best with your family.

There are no financial requirements to host a Fresh Air child. A family must simply have an extra bed for the child to sleep in during their stay.

Approximately 44 families hosted in the Northern Fairfield County area last summer. The Fresh Air Fund employees aim to increase the number of community members from Newtown who can host this summer. Hosts may request the age group and gender of their Fresh Air visitor.

The Fresh Air Fund provides transportation and arrangements for payment of any medical expenses for children without insurance. The fund also provides liability insurance for hosts and committee volunteers. Since 1877, more than 1.7 million children growing up in New York City’s neighborhoods have experienced the Fresh Air Fund vacations. The fund is a not-for-profit agency. Visit freshair.org.