There is Still Time to Host a Fresh Air Child!

Summer vacation, that special time of year for all children, is not far away and you still have the chance to make it memorable for a child from New York City! Thanks to the many families throughout 13 Northeastern states and Canada, more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income neighborhoods have experienced free summer vacations in suburban and small town communities through The Fresh Air Fund. The Fund is seeking more families to give inner-city children a two-week vacation this summer. By volunteering as a host family for The Fund’s Friendly Town program, you can help give a child a break from the heat and noise of the crowded city streets.
“You appreciate what you have when you watch the children’s joy that comes from doing things they normally would not be able to do in the city,” says a Fresh Air host. This year, The Fund needs more host families to carry on its 132nd summer tradition of sharing the joys of suburban and small town life like smelling fresh flowers, casting a fishing pole for the first time, or hearing crickets chirp. The friendships that develop between hosts and their Fresh Air visitors often last a lifetime.
There are no financial requirements for hosting a Fresh Air child. Hosts can select the gender and approximate age of their visitor. First-time visitors are six to 12 years old, and reinvited youngsters may participate in the Friendly Town program through age 18.
To learn more about hosting a Fresh Air child this summer, please call The Fresh Air Fund at (800) 367-0003. You can also visit The Fund’s Web site at www.freshair.org.