New York City children get a breath of fresh air

Twelve-year-old Marcus Brooks of Brooklyn, N.Y., loves the beach — and for one week only, he’ll get to soak up the sand and the sun free of charge.

New York City youths who will be spending summer vacation with local host families through the Fresh Air Fund’s “Friendly Town Host Families” program are greeted by DonnaLyn Giegerich, a Red Bank host, as they arrive at Holmdel Park on July 14. More photos on page 24 and at gmnews.com. JEFF GRANIT staff “I love bike riding, swimming and drawing,” Marcus said with a smile, backpack in hand. He is one of the many children who are joining 40 Monmouth, Middlesex and Ocean County families participating in the 2010 Fresh Air Fund, a nonprofit agency that provides free summer vacations to New York City youngsters.

The children departed from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan and arrived in the 565-acre Holmdel Park in Holmdel Township on July 14.

Clockwise from top left: Area children hold up signs greeting New York City children arriving at Holmdel Park July 14 as part of the Fresh Air Fund’s “Friendly Town Host Families” program. Julie Shell, of Matawan, takes a photo of her son Henry (l), Jade Gallo, of Woodhaven, Queens, who the family is hosting, and her daughter Jackie. Shell greets Jade. The inner-city youngsters will be visiting for two weeks or longer, some away from the city for the first time, while others are returning to visit the same host families they have stayed with for consecutive summers. More photos at gmnews.com. Families and members of the Northern Monmouth County Fresh Air volunteer committee greeted boys and girls from 6 to 18 years old with colorful signs and balloons.

Under the organization’s “Friendly Town Host Families” program, volunteers open their homes to inner-city children for one week in the summertime. The local volunteer committee selects families after reviewing applications, visiting them in their homes and checking their personal references, according to the Fresh Air Fund.

“The bottom line is this is a great program … and it just keeps giving,” said DonnaLyn Giegerich, of Red Bank, who will be hosting Marcus and his 12-year-old brother, River, for the upcoming week. Giegerich has been involved with the Fresh Air Fund for more than six years and previously opened her home to a young man from Jamaica, Queens. “He came to me at 12, and now he’s 18,” she said. “He’s coming down from the city [to visit] because he’s in his corporate life now. He will be part of our Circle of Love because he started at 12 and now he’s giving back.”

Children are selected to participate in the program based on financial need and are registered for the program by more than 90 social service and community organizations across the five boroughs.

For some families, like Julie Shell of Matawan and her two children, Henry, 6, and Jackie, 8, having a Fresh Air child stay at their home means her children can make a friend who will last a lifetime.

“This seemed like a good opportunity,” Shell said, adding that she was inspired to participate in the program after seeing an advertisement in a newspaper. The Shell family will be taking Jade Gallo, of Woodhaven, Queens, to amusement parks, the beach, a pool club and shark tooth hunting.

Eight-year-old Jackie was even counting down the days for her new friend to arrive.

“I got a calendar and I wrote when she [Jade] was coming,” she said.

For many of the children, their visit to central New Jersey is their first time outside of the city.

“I want to give the child an opportunity to change their life a little bit and let them see something else,” said Gina Russo, of Woodbridge, a newcomer to the Friendly Town program. She and her husband will be treating Zahkari Pryce of the Bronx to barbecues, bowling, crafts, the Point Pleasant boardwalk and the waterfront park in Perth Amboy along the Raritan Bay.

“Inner-city kids will get to see what the outer boroughs are like,” Russo said. “This is my first time, and I am nervous and excited. I want him [Zahkari] to really enjoy himself.”

Other families are Fresh Air veterans. Arnie Fuog, of Highlands, is participating in the program for the second time. The Fuog family will be reconnecting with 12- year-old Sidiq Bay of the Bronx.

“We saw him three years ago and haven’t seen him since,” Fuog said. “It should be exciting to see him again. We take him to the beach and the water park.”

Other children will get a chance to enjoy the great outdoors.

“I can’t wait to go horseback riding,” said 12-year old Anysa Haynes, of Queens Village, who is spending her second summer with host Cathy Clark and her daughter Taylor, 14, of Middletown. “I also like to swim and I really like to roller skate.”

Many hosts, like the Clark family, become a permanent vacation home for the visiting child. According to data from the Fresh Air Fund, 65 percent of all children are reinvited to stay with the same host families year after year. The children are welcome to participate in the program until age 18.

Many return home to the city with fond memories of summertime down at the Shore. This year, 9½-year-old Travon Thomas of Brooklyn will get to participate in a surf jam in Spring Lake, go to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, and see fireworks over Point Pleasant Beach with the Dicso family of Spring Lake.

“This is my first time with the program,” said Karrie Dicso. “I wanted to wait until my son got older. We are so excited.”

All 40 families were scheduled to gather at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch on July 19, sponsored by the Northern Monmouth Fresh Air volunteer committee.

According to the fund, approximately 10,000 New York City children enjoy Fresh Air programs annually. More than 5,000 children visited host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states in 2009, including New Jersey.

The Fresh Air Fund headquarters is located at 633 Third Ave., New York. For more information about volunteer programs, visit www.freshair.org or call 212- 897-8900.