Area families host NYC kids for summer fun
With the coming of summer the most recent group of New York City children taking part in the Fresh Air Fund have arrived in the area. Thirty-five children were greeted at the Shipley School and at a second stop at Montgomery School in Chester Springs for a week of enjoying summer in a more “green” setting than their homes in the crowded city.
The 140-year-old Fresh Air Fund started when the Rev. Willard Parsons from a small town in Northeastern Pennsylvania went into New York City and saw immigrant children who were having breathing issues. He went back to his congregation and asked them to become host families for the children so they could get away from the city and into some fresh air.
Families in the area have been taking part in the Fresh Air Fund going back as far as the early 1960s. A July 7, 1962, edition of the West Chester Daily Local News shows children swimming at the Mullerstein family pool at Valley Creek Farms in West Chester. Activities the children enjoy enjoyed included a hayride, followed by games and a cookout.
In 2017 the atmosphere much the same.
“We’re going bowling, getting ice cream and playing some basketball,” said Maureen McGurt of Springfield as she waited for the bus carrying the children to arrive. McGurt, who with her husband, John, and children, Keenan, 11, and Carlyne, 14, welcomed Jakhyre, 11, back into their home for the fourth year. “We just like to get out and enjoy each others’ company,” McGurt said
“I call him my summer son,” said Beth Albright of Garnet Valley as she waited with her family to welcome Jeordys, 13. “We’ll go canoeing, go to the shore. He loves the water. We just make it fun.” is
Albright pointed out many of the children arrive with poor swimming skills, while visiting, the local Fresh Air organization offers swim lessons at area pools and clubs to help the children learn to swim.
Children in the program range in age from 6 to 18. Volunteer Maura Wheeler of Radnor said the organization has extensively focused finding spots for the many middle-school aged children who want to take part. Children involved in the program must have good grades in school, pass eligibility needs qualifications and health checks.
A second group of 20 children will visit in August. While the cutoff for hosting this year ended July 1, Wheeler said families are welcome to apply for 2018. Families that do volunteer must have a home inspection and pass child safety clearances. This is the second year the organization has been working with the new Pennsylvania child safety requirements.
“The Fresh Air organization has a streamlined checklist on its website now for families to register. It’s just part of our process now,” said Wheeler. “We’ve found many of the families have the approvals already. If you were sending your child, you’d want the same.”
Wheeler said adults without their own children are also welcome to host a child for the week.
“It’s my seventh year,” said Yarayah, 17, who hails from Brooklyn and is staying with the Wheelers. “I like spending time with the family, doing things I don’t usually get to do in the city.”
Visit http://www.freshair. org/ for more information.