A Rural Retreat: Fresh Air Fund Children Arrive in Vernon

Dozens of families gathered in Vernon Tuesday afternoon to pick up their guests from the Fresh Air Fund. The non-profit organization has helped over 1.7 million New York City children enjoy free summer experiences since 1877, according to its Web site.

The families, who will host the children for one to two weeks as part of the Friendly Town Program, were excited to greet the participants. Many families host the same child year after year, creating a strong year-round bond with their guests.

"He just fits right into our family," Tolland resident Linda Byam said. Byam's Fresh Air Fund child is the same age as Byam's youngest son, Matthew. 

"They're like brothers when they get here," Byam said, who is hosting her guest for the third time.

Many of the families make great connections because of the Fresh Air Fund's matching process. After a family requests a child, specifying which age range and gender would work best with their home, the organization compares the family's hobbies and interests with the roster of children.

The end result is a fantastic week of summer experiences that meets the interests of the child. Coventry residents Brandi and Todd Gaulin said they are looking forward to taking Jihyeong or "Jay" hiking, swimming and on a scavenger hunt during his visit.

"They don't have the green grass to play on. They don't have the luxuries that we have," Brandi Gaulin said. Most of the selected children do not have the opportunity to swim or play in large outdoor areas.

About 30 children were chosen to visit the north central Connecticut region this month, according to Vernon Chairperson Kim Sztaba. The participants, often from low-income areas, are recruited through schools, churches and other organizations. Children have to be between 6-12 years old to travel for the first time and can keep visiting a family until they're 18.

In order to be a selected as a host, families need to pass background checks, reference checks and a home visit, according to Sztaba. Local volunteers conduct all the checks for the region.

Sztaba said that a family has to also be open-minded to be a successful host.

"A good host family is one that's willing to accept differences and has flexibility. It's one that's ready to open and share their lives," Sztaba said.

If a family is open, they can gain as much from their guest's visit as their visitors. Byam said that she wanted to be involved with the Fresh Air Fund in order to teach her three sons about diverse lifestyles.

"Tolland is so homogenous," she said. She feels that having a visitor from an urban home is a learning opportunity for her kids.

In fact, most of the families decided to participate in the program after learning about the fantastic experiences of other families.

Tolland resident Kathy Gorsky said she decided to get involved after hearing great reports. She said that she was happy to see her visitor blossom from a shy child into a comfortable member of the family.

"By the end she was clicking with my kids," Gorsky said. "It was great seeing her come out of her shell."

To learn more about the Fresh Air Fund or about hosting a child, visit the organization's Web site. The foundation places children in the 13 Northeast states and Canada.