Fresh Air Fund Seeks Host Families

The Fresh Air Fund Friendly Town Program is seeking hosts for two-week summer vacations for New York City children.

The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency active since 1877, has provided programs for over 10,000 New York City children annually. This year, close to 6,000 children will visit volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities in 13 states and Canada. Another 3,000 children will attend five Fresh Air camps on a 3,000-acre site in Fishkill, N.Y. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves 1,000 disadvantaged teenagers each year.

Children are selected based on financial need. They are from low-income families and registered by 50 social service and community organizations in the five boroughs of New York City.

The children are from six to 18 years old. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for two weeks. Over 65 percent of all children are re-invited to stay with host families year after year. Re-invited youngsters may continue to visit through age 18, and many spend the entire summer. They and their host families often form bonds of friendship that last a lifetime.

Members of a volunteer committee select host families after reviewing their applications, visiting in their homes, and checking their personal references. There are no financial requirements for hosting. Host families are not paid.

Residents interested in hosting a child this summer should call the Fresh Air Fund at 800-367-0003 or Janet and Paul Haringa at 203-268-1259.

Tax-deductible contributions to help sponsor a child for a visit may be sent to The Fresh Air Fund, 1040 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10018.