Each Friday, the another jennifer blog shares stories of those who incorporate philanthropy into their everyday lives – personally and professionally – in a creative and unique way. If you have a story you’d like to share, please contact Jennifer. You can view past posts from the series here.
The following article is a guest post from Michelle Nahom at A Dish of Daily Life.
Every summer, we host a child from the Fresh Air Fund. The Fresh Air Fund offers disadvantaged kids from New York City a chance to get away from the city and stay with host families for a week or two during the summer. Over the years, 1.7 million children have benefited from this amazing program.
“The only real voyage of discover consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” ~Marcel Proust
When our Fresh Air Fund child first came to us, she was 6 years old. She hated bugs. She could not swim or ride a bike. I remember those last two facts being listed on her original application as things she wanted to learn while she was visiting.
This summer will be her 7th summer with us. She knows my kids’ grandparents and their cousins on both sides because her visits have coincided a number of times with family parties. Everyone looks forward to seeing her when she visits. She’s been hiking, has climbed on rocks at a local waterfall, has visited several amusement parks, has been zip lining, and last year she went with us on a beach vacation to Rhode Island. She loves going with me to the farm to pick fresh veggies at a local CSA we belong to (although I can’t convince her to eat most of them). And she still hates bugs.
I remember the first summer she was with us, I could hardly get her out of the pool. She swam around with her lifejacket and didn’t want to get out…EVER. She even asked me if she could sleep in the pool! She didn’t learn to swim without a life jacket that summer, but over the years, she’s become quite the fish. She would be in the pool all day if I let her. And she can now ride a bike as well. We live in a great area for bike riding, near a private school with lots of sidewalks.
My husband and I heard about this program through a newspaper article before we had kids, and we decided way back then that this was one way we wanted to “give back” once we had children. I cut the article out, and it sat in my inbox for years, until 7 years ago, when we felt our children were old enough. And we are so glad we did!
Our Fresh Air child is a great kid – we look as forward to her visits as she does. Many people have made comments to me about how lucky she is that we host her every year. But the truth is, this has also been an amazing experience for our family. Our kids have had the chance to see the world through someone else’s eyes. We’ve all learned invaluable life lessons about caring and sharing. In the end, Fresh Air is so much more than a summer experience. If our Fresh Air child is “lucky” for having this opportunity, then we are “lucky” too.
The Fresh Air Fund is always looking for host families if you think you might be interested in hosting. You do have the ability to choose the age and gender of the child you host, and more than 65% of all participating children are re-invited to stay with their host families summer after summer. There is no typical Fresh Air host. Some have children; some do not. As the Fresh Air Fund website says, all you need is “room in your home and in your heart!”
Michelle Nahom is the blogger behind A Dish of Daily Life. She’s a soccer mom with 3 children and has been married to her college sweetheart for over 20 years. She blogs about her family; ways to organize, share and enjoy your memories; and social media. Connect with Michelle on her Facebook page and Twitter.
Seana Turner says
June 21, 2013 at 7:05 amFresh Air Fund is a wonderful program, and a long-term benefit if you are able to be with the same child year after year. Thanks for sharing about this, Michelle!
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Michelle says
June 21, 2013 at 8:26 amIt is very cool to be able to have the same child every year. My daughter thinks of her as her summer sister and she fits right back into our family each summer as if she’s never been gone.
Michelle recently posted..It’s a Funtastical Summer {Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party}
Michelle says
June 21, 2013 at 7:20 amI’m very excited to be guest posting over here today — thanks for having me!
Michelle recently posted..It’s a Funtastical Summer {Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party}
anotherjennifer says
June 21, 2013 at 8:20 amI’m so happy you are here sharing your story, Michelle! You have me seriously thinking about applying to become a host family for The Fresh Air Fun. Thanks!
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Michelle says
June 21, 2013 at 8:25 amI hope you do!! It is such a great experience – can’t say enough about it!!
Michelle recently posted..Fresh Air Fund…A Life Changing Experience
Ilene says
June 21, 2013 at 9:03 amOK, MIchelle. If at all possible, I love you even more after reading this. I think it’s great that you open your home like this and allow children to experience what they would not be able to experience otherwise. Thank you for sharing about this amazing program and your involvement in it! xo
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Michelle says
June 21, 2013 at 12:48 pmAwww…thanks! We have been very blessed. Our Fresh Air child is a great kid and a pleasure to have here. We enjoy having her as much as she enjoys coming! Gotta work on those veggies though…hahaha.
Michelle recently posted..It’s a Funtastical Summer {Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party}
Nicole @ Work in Sweats Mama says
June 21, 2013 at 9:06 amWhat a wonderful program & wonderful story! Thanks for sharing Michelle! I completely agree with you – when we give back to our community, whether in a big or small way, we’re the ‘lucky’ ones who benefit from the experience. I always feel this way when I volunteer with Girls on the Run.
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Michelle says
June 21, 2013 at 6:31 pmYou are so right! It’s nice to be a part of a program like this. It really is a great experience for all of us!
Michelle recently posted..Fresh Air Fund…A Life Changing Experience
Tamara says
June 21, 2013 at 9:51 amAh, that is so cool. She is family! We totally live in the country. My husband’s three cousins live in a one bedroom apartment in the Bronx they spend 1-2 weeks out here every year with my mother-in-law. It means so much to them and they really live it up – fishing, swimming, hiking, etc. All of the things I may take for granted because it’s in my backyard.
This is amazing, Michelle! (And Jennifer!)
Tamara recently posted..Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party: Funtastical Summer.
Michelle says
June 21, 2013 at 6:34 pmYes you are right — there are a lot of things we just take for granted. She is a little fish now! We try to do something new and different every time but there are things I know she loves to do when she is here…swimming is obviously one of them. She is quite the fish now!
Michelle recently posted..Fresh Air Fund…A Life Changing Experience
Maryellen says
June 21, 2013 at 10:48 amWe are hoping to host for the first time this summer! Our interview is next week 🙂 My hope.goal is to become more involved in the program and have our community in NC become a “Friendly Town”. So excited for our family!!!
Michelle says
June 21, 2013 at 6:35 pmGood for you!! They are always looking for host families! It is such a great experience and I wish you the best!
Michelle recently posted..It’s a Funtastical Summer {Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party}
Krystal says
June 21, 2013 at 11:15 amThis is such an awesome idea!! There should be more opportunities like these everywhere. Your perspective on it is wonderful and your want to share it with your children even more so!
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Michelle says
June 21, 2013 at 6:39 pmI don’t know if there is anything else like this anywhere else, but they do send the kids all over…someone above posted that they are hosting and they are in NC! We are relatively close in CT, but they do bus the kids to many other states. It’s definitely a wonderful experience for everyone!
Michelle recently posted..Fresh Air Fund…A Life Changing Experience
Cyndi says
June 21, 2013 at 12:55 pmI had no idea there was such a thing. thank you for sharing this with us. I hope you have a wonderful Friday. 🙂
Michelle says
June 21, 2013 at 6:40 pmGlad you enjoyed learning more about it!! Have a wonderful weekend!!
Michelle recently posted..Fresh Air Fund…A Life Changing Experience
Joi @ Rx Fitness Lady says
June 21, 2013 at 4:03 pmThis is amazing Michelle! Thanks for sharing it on Jennifer’s today! If we had a program like this, I’d be sold. This was such a blessing to read! KUDOS to you and your family for participating and for such a long time. You all are truly committed and I love it!
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Michelle says
June 21, 2013 at 6:43 pmSomeone above posted that they are hosting in NC. I didn’t know they traveled that far with the kids, but I did know they traveled to a lot of different places. It’s such a cool experience for the kids…I love that this program exists! We love it. Our Fresh Air child fits right back into our family as if she’s never been gone!
Michelle recently posted..Fresh Air Fund…A Life Changing Experience
Kristen Daukas says
June 21, 2013 at 5:13 pmLove it! I would love to do that program but I think the closest truly urban city we have is Atlanta or DC.. Wonder if I can host one from NY? Will they travel that far?
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Michelle says
June 22, 2013 at 4:34 pmApparently they do bring groups of kids to NC down from NYC. You should check into it. Its a great program!!
Michelle recently posted..Fresh Air Fund…A Life Changing Experience
The Dose of Reality says
June 21, 2013 at 10:51 pmOh, this is the most awesome think I’ve read in a long time. It had me in tears. This sounds like a wonderful organization. I’m definitely looking into it. Wow!! Ps. Fun to find one of my favorite bloggers here today. I love it when that happens! –Lisa
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Michelle says
June 22, 2013 at 4:36 pmYou should look into it! Someone else said they were hosting and they were in NC! It’s worth looking into. They are always looking for host families!
Michelle recently posted..Fresh Air Fund…A Life Changing Experience
Chris Carter says
June 21, 2013 at 11:44 pmOh this is just SO COOL Michelle!!! I am so impressed with not only the vision of this program, but your willingness to open your home to a child in need every stinkin’ summer. Such a beautiful experience for her and I’m sure like you said- for your entire family. I am so glad you shared this… I am going to look into this too!! 🙂
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Michelle says
June 22, 2013 at 6:52 pmWe weren’t sure how this all was going to go that first summer, but we knew we wanted to try it. We’ve been very blessed. Our Fresh Air child is a great kid, and we love having her here as much as she loves coming!
Michelle recently posted..Fresh Air Fund…A Life Changing Experience
Alexa (Kat) says
June 22, 2013 at 1:01 pmWhat a cool idea! I had never heard about this, but can really see the benefit! It reminds me of all of the exchange students my parents hosted over the years, but this is fantastic as well!
Michelle says
June 22, 2013 at 6:54 pmWe’ve really enjoyed being a part of the program! Its been a great experience all around!
Michelle recently posted..Fresh Air Fund…A Life Changing Experience
catherine gacad says
June 22, 2013 at 1:13 pmOnce again, just absolutely inspiring. If Dean and I ever move out of our apartment into a home, this is something (or something similar since there isn’t a Fresh Air Fund in San Francisco) I would very much consider doing.
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Michelle says
June 22, 2013 at 6:55 pmI wonder if they have something on that end of the country. It seems like they should! It’s been such a great experience for our family!!
Michelle recently posted..Fresh Air Fund…A Life Changing Experience
Leah.Davidson says
June 22, 2013 at 10:35 pmI had no idea programs like this existed! (not sure they do in Canada but will look!). She IS very lucky to have a family like you- but I agree, sometimes you end up with the best reward by helping and serving someone else!
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Michelle says
June 26, 2013 at 12:40 amYes, I agree! She is a very special little girl and we are glad to have her in our lives!
Michelle recently posted..Buffalo Chicken Dip with Texas Pete’s Buffalo Wing Sauce
Mothering From Scratch says
June 23, 2013 at 1:48 pm{Kathy} What a wonderful idea! Hosting another child in our home last summer from England was awesome as well. He stayed with us for 3 weeks. Our kids loved it!
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Michelle says
June 26, 2013 at 12:41 amWow – that sounds like a very cool program as well!! I bet the kids had a blast!
Michelle recently posted..Buffalo Chicken Dip with Texas Pete’s Buffalo Wing Sauce
Jessica Smock says
June 24, 2013 at 10:42 amThis is awesome! Someday I’d like to do this too. I grew up in the mountains, far out in the country, and I remember talking to Fresh Air kids about how much they loved their summers in the mountains. It truly can be life changing!
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Michelle says
June 26, 2013 at 12:42 amYou should! It has been a wonderful experience for us! We waited till our youngest was 5 (I think) before we did it…it was just about the perfect time for us to start! It’s really been a wonderful experience!
Michelle recently posted..Buffalo Chicken Dip with Texas Pete’s Buffalo Wing Sauce
❤ Julie Maloney ❤ (@Momspective) says
June 24, 2013 at 1:23 pmI doubt they’d come as far South as South Carolina but if this was something I would do it would have to wait until my kids are out of the house. I don’t think my husband could handle any more kids around 🙂
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Michelle says
June 26, 2013 at 12:45 amThere are many people without kids in the house that host! One of the previous program chairs for this area didn’t have kids but she took kids each summer. It’s pretty hectic around here anyway, so for us, what’s one more! 🙂 But it is a pretty cool program and I am glad we got involved!
Michelle recently posted..Buffalo Chicken Dip with Texas Pete’s Buffalo Wing Sauce
Jennifer M. says
June 24, 2013 at 6:47 pmWe have a friend who has had an amazing experience with the Fresh Air Fund, He hosted the same kid for many years, and even though the “kid” is no longer eligible for the Fresh Air Program because of age, they still keep in touch and have get togethers.
Such a great program 🙂
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Michelle says
June 26, 2013 at 12:46 amI love hearing stories like that! We hope that it will be like that with our Fresh Air child as well!!
Michelle recently posted..Buffalo Chicken Dip with Texas Pete’s Buffalo Wing Sauce
anotherjennifer says
June 25, 2013 at 8:33 pmLove all the interest in the Fresh Air Fund! Michelle is such a wonderful advocate for them. For those who are interested (and still following this thread), here is what their website says about host family location:
Almost any family living along the east coast, from Virginia to Maine, can be a host family. If you have an extra seat at the kitchen table and a spare bed, you’re on your way to becoming a host family. Host families come in all shapes and sizes; anyone with room in their heart and home is welcome to host a child.
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Michelle says
June 26, 2013 at 12:51 amThanks for posting that!! I knew it was a pretty far reaching program, but not the exact parameters! I hope this will spark some interest in the program! They can always use more host families so that all kids who want to participate can!
Michelle recently posted..Buffalo Chicken Dip with Texas Pete’s Buffalo Wing Sauce