Date: Fri 07-Jul-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

A2-Fresh-Air-Children-urban

Full Text:

The Fresh Air Program: Extending Horizons For Kids And Families with cut (A2)

The Willie family is enjoying their third year hosting a Fresh Air child from

Brooklyn. Before playing a game of football, Tod, 13, Tony Avile (center), 11,

and Tony Willie, 10, and Bonnie Willie gathered near the pool. Not pictured is

Bonnie's husband, Tod. -Bee Photo, Zimmermann

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

Three years ago the Willie family of Jo-Mar Drive hoped to expand their family

by one person. But it was not a newborn they anticipated; it was an

eight-year-old boy from Brooklyn who would stay with them as part of the Fresh

Air Fund. Now they can't imagine a summer without Tony Avile visiting for two

weeks.

½We were nervous to begin with,¾ said Bonnie Willie, who became familiar with

the program through friends who have hosted a child for ten years. The main

reason for their hesitancy was that they knew that their lifestyle differed

greatly from that of a Fresh Air child's. ½But we hit it off just fine. Tony

is very polite and shares the same interests that the boys do... Now he's just

part of the family!¾ said Mrs Willie.

Tony's older sister, Rose, went one summer to stay with a family in

Pennsylvania and that piqued his interest in the Fresh Air Fund. The next year

he signed up and didn't believe it when his sister told him she was going back

to Pennsylvania but he was going to Connecticut.

Tony said he didn't know anything about the family he would be staying with

until he got on the bus wearing clothes bought especially for the occasion,

and was handed a photograph of the Willies.

When he arrived in Newtown, he was surprised to see all the trees here. ½I

thought there were bears around; that we were going to live [deep] in the

woods. Then we got here [to the house],¾ said Tony, still showing signs of

relief.

The pool at the Willie home was another frightening element for the young city

dweller who didn't know how to swim. ½I thought I was going to drown when I

went in the pool,¾ said Tony, whose family is originally from Mexico. But the

other children, Tony, now 10, and Tod, 13, taught him how to swim. Now he

likes it so much he even ventures into Lake Lillinonah when the extended

family has a picnic there every summer.

Tony said he feels that the Willies are like a second family to him. They take

him out to eat, celebrate his birthday which always falls during the two weeks

he is in Connecticut, invite him to participate in large family events, and

give him his own bedroom, and contact him by phone throughout the year. ½I

didn't even have to call them this year, and they sent me the letter [saying I

was invited to come],¾ he said.

Tony Willie said, he didn't know what to expect the first year Tony Avile came

to stay with them. ½I wasn't really sure how he'd act and stuff,¾ he said. But

he soon found out the two of them shared many interests, including sports.

½And I was surprised he had the same name as me.¾

½When Tony came and saw the trees, I realized there are people who have never

seen trees, and that I had been around them all my life,¾ said Tod Willie. He

said he has become more aware of city life during the three years Tony has

stayed with them. ½You can choose which way you want to live. And you

appreciate things you have,¾ he added.

Tod said they had always talked to people who were different from them - at

school, for instance. But now he enjoys finding out more about them.

½I think [we all have realized] that even though people are from a different

place or background, that we really have a lot in common,¾ said Mrs Willie.

Tony likes to play football, go swimming, and play video games with Tod and

Tony. He said he also really likes going to the St Rose Carnival.

½We go on the go-carts [in Ridgefield], go fishing and bowling, play

mini-golf, and eat dinner out,¾ said Tod. These are special events to the

Willie children, too.

At last year's Fourth of July party at Lake Lillinonah, the two Tonys were

paired together for events and won a trophy when they took first place in the

three-legged race.

½It's nice to be able to share our family with someone,¾ said Mrs Willie. ½The

children now realize we can have someone else come in the family, and welcome

them.¾

The Fresh Air Fund

The Fresh Air Fund, established in 1877, is a non-profit agency that provides

free vacations to needy New York City children. Since inception, the agency

has coordinated vacations for more than 1.6 million disadvantaged children.

Through the Fund's Friendly Town Program approximately 8,000 youngsters

annually visit volunteer host families in rural and suburban communities.

Children aged 6 to 16 may participate, and each is required to have a physical

examination before arriving at the host home.

Newtown has been involved in the program for the past 22 years, according to

Deborah Mesinger, chairman for Newtown, Bethel, Southbury, and Redding. Mrs

Mesinger and her family have also hosted children for many years.

½I get so much from these children - I think we are so fortunate,¾ she said.

Her children have told her their views about life and people have really

expanded because of the time shared with Fresh Air children. ½They have so

much to talk about - all the kids together - if you just listen to them...They

are really interesting kids.¾

Only 15 families in the four communities volunteered to host a child for two

weeks this year, said the chairman. ½It's a sad thing, but a good thing for 15

people,¾ she added.

Mrs Mesinger interviews interested families each February. Anyone is eligible

including people who work, are single, have no children, or are older. And

hosts may choose the age and sex of the Fresh Air visitor to match their own

family's interests and activities.

½They don't need to have a special bedroom or anything, they just have to love

kids and be flexible.¾ For instance, the family might be so involved in a

baseball game they might not eat until 9 pm, she said. ½I had a 50-year-old

woman in Southbury who did this for years and just had a blast!¾.

Anyone considering it should just try it, she said. ½It's two weeks out of

your whole life. All these kids - it's our next generation and it's important.

They don't get to see another side [of life, living] in the city.¾

Anyone interested in more information or in hosting a Fresh Air child can

contact Mrs Mesinger at 426-3693.