THE FRESH AIR FUND is an independent, not-for-profit agency, that provides free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities. The Fresh Air Fund has been doing this since 1877 and nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2010, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.
The Fresh Air Fund is in need of host families. There is no such thing as a "typical" host family. If you have room in your home - and your heart - to host a child, you could be one too. Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster they would like to host. Fresh Air children are boys and girls who live in New York City and are eager to experience the simple pleasures of life outside the city.
To find out more about becoming a host family, visit http://www.freshair.org.
