Surburban families host underprivledged NYC kids at their homes for the summer
Categories: In The News
New York in the summer can be a little rough. Air conditioning is common, but not standard, and there's something about the city that makes you feel like you're melting into the concrete every time you go outdoors.
For kids who grow up in the Five Boroughs, this is the only summer they know -- without beaches, nature, and open spaces to explore.
Enter The Fresh Air Fund. It's an organization that finds families from the surrounding area -- all 13 northeastern states and Canada -- for 5,000 New York City children from low-income neighborhoods who want to get a taste of life outside of the city. Participating families can select the gender and approximate age of their visitor, who will come live in their house for two weeks.
If you live anywhere near NYC and you'd like to participate (and you should, because this is a wonderful idea), you can call The Fresh Air Fund at 800.367.0003, or visit their website for more information.
Recent Posts
- G.I. Joe, My Little Pony Invading TV With New Children's Network (2/09/2010)
- Movies May Influence Children's Food Choices, Study Shows (2/09/2010)
- Report Cites 220 Cases of D.C. Teachers Abusing Students (2/09/2010)
- Chicago Candidate Drops Out of Race With Tearful Child On Display (2/09/2010)
- Juicy, But Not Juice (2/09/2010)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
CLM 5-16-2007 @ 3:51PM
One slight correction - there are beaches in the 5 boroughs. Further, some of them (such as Coney Island) are accessible by subway.
Reply
N. Suga 5-16-2007 @ 3:51PM
This is actually kind of sad, because NYC is FILLED with lots of lovely green spaces that people don't know about. From Central Park to Alley Pond in Queens to Clover Lake on Staten Island, the five boroughs aren't all concrete and steel.
There are a couple of shows on a NYC public access channel that highlight some of the city's best places. Cool in Your Code and $9.99 (where they tour a neighborhood for under 10 bucks) are fantastic travel guides for locals.
Reply
Elizabeth 5-16-2007 @ 5:43PM
It's true, NYC in the summer doesn't have to be a nightmare, and there are some great options of things to do. But the kids at whom this program is aimed often come from single-parent or dual-income households, where no one is home to supervise jaunts to the park or the beach. So what ends up happening is a summer spent just hanging out on the corner or whatever; the Fresh Air Fund is aimed at not only letting those kids escape the heat and grind of the city for a few weeks in the summer, but also to expose them to other ways of life and expand their horizons.
Reply
CLM 5-16-2007 @ 6:57PM
I wasn't commenting on the program, just the statement that NYC has no beaches. There is no doubt that the Fresh Air Fund is a great thing.
Reply