Families, Fresh Air Guests Plan Summer Visits

By Kendra Bobowick

The signs said, “Welcome Briana!” “Welcome back Yumi!” and “Welcome Chris.” Balloons, gifts, and a handful of parents and children all stood for a better view of the large tour bus turning the corner from Route 111 and pulling into the Monroe Congregational Church parking lot Tuesday at 5:30 pm sharp.

Among the mix of residents from surrounding towns were David and Marie Athans and Elin Hayes with her daughter Mairin — all waiting meet for the first time or welcome back a child from New York City. The children were visiting through the Fresh Air Fund, a nonprofit agency enabling inner-city children to vacation with a family from towns, including Newtown, for one week or more during the summer.

When Raquel King stepped of the bus, Mairin and Elin Hayes, who are hosting a guest for the first time, were quick to put their arms around her. Arturo Flores is back for a second visit with the Athans, and is looking forward to an extended stay through August.

Already filled with plans for picnics, swimming, amusements parks, trips for ice cream, or afternoon hikes, the small group of parents and their children had gathered before the bus arrived and got their gifts and welcome signs ready. On some agendas were visits to Lake Compounce, Lone Oaks campgrounds, and even a jaunt into the Catskills. Some families planned to see what their Fresh Air guest would be interested in doing.

Monica Lockwood and her daughter Mary Lockwood of Shelton were excited about the visit. After leaving work as a physician and becoming an AmeriCares volunteer, Ms Lockwood realized, “There are a lot of people who don’t have a lot of things, and I wanted to show kids how to help people,” she said. Mary’s goal? She wants to teach her Fresh Air companion how to ride a bike. Also from out of town, Shari Watson and her sons Josh and Noah held a sign welcoming Christopher. Although the family usually welcomed a college student for an extended visit, Ms Watson wanted her children to have a companion closer to their own age this year. “I wanted someone my children could connect to,” she said. Thinking of New York City, she said, “It’s only an hour away — I am hoping for a relationship.”

Enjoying their own patch of shade, Mary and Ken Kellogg agreed that welcoming a child through the Fresh Air Fund “was always something we wanted to do,” Ms Kellogg said. Her husband said, “I had heard about it years ago and was fascinated that people opened their homes.”

Mairin and Elin Hayes looked calm, other than Mairin’s tendency to lean forward and peer toward the street frequently. Was she looking for the bus that would drop off Raquel? Participating for the first time, Ms Hayes said, “The decision was both of ours. I read about it in the newspaper and talked to Mairin. Her first and only question: ‘Can we ask for a girl?’”

She has plans for swimming, camping, and trips to the beach.

Ms Athans was nervously glancing at the time and wondering when the bus would arrive.

She admitted that she was both nervous and excited. Hoping things would go well for everyone involved, she said, “People love the experience.”

Families interested in welcoming a child for the second session of visits in August need to contact Ms Athans as soon as possible. Paperwork must be back to New York by July 25. Call 426-7137, or contact the Fresh Air Fund at 800-367-0003.