CREATE SUMMER MEMORIES: HOST A NEW YORK CITY CHILD

Your backyard could be a summertime oasis to an inner-city child. Close to 5,000 New York City children visit volunteer host families in the Northeast for two weeks or longer each summer through The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Town program. They can run their hands and toes through freshly cut grass, skip over a sprinkler and watch the night sky fill with stars. As a host, you can help more children from low-income neighborhoods in New York City experience the simple summer pleasures of the Olean, NY; Bradford, PA; and surrounding areas.

 

“This was a wonderful experience for the whole family. Shanelle felt comfortable with all of us very quickly and likewise we felt the same. She was a total pleasure to host and a real breath of Fresh Air!” said a Fresh Air host. Many families find their hosting experiences so rewarding that over 65 percent of all children are reinvited to stay with host families, year after year. 

 

This year, The Fresh Air Fund needs more families to volunteer as hosts for the Friendly Town program. There are no financial requirements, and the host family can choose the age and gender of their visitor; all that is needed is time and love. First-time visitors range in age from six to 12 and can be invited back through The Fund until age 18.

 

Take the opportunity to learn more about The Fresh Air Fund and hosting a child this summer. Contact Jennifer Mull  (814-642-2293) or Luanne Lane (814-642-2888) or call The Fund at (800) 367-0003.  You can also visit The Fund’s Web site at www.freshair.org.