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Israel, 10, from New York City, has spent a year with the Rossi family in Easton and has been invited back again for another summer.
Janet and Gabriel Rossi have been hosting Israel through the Fresh Air Fund, which has provided free summer vacations in suburban and small-town communities to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income neighborhoods. Families from Fairfield County and throughout the 13 Northeastern states and Canada have participated in the Fresh Air Fund for 135 summers.
"The boys got along great and had so much fun together. We went to a Bluefish game and, of course, the beach," said Janet Rossi. Her son David, 9, wrote a poem to encourage other Easton families to participate in the Fresh Air Fund program:
"I think you should do the Fresh Air Fund!
A kid comes to your house from New York!
It's really fun to play with a friend for the entire week!
My kid was Israel. I had a ton of fun playing with him!
We went to the pool together. We made up songs and played Legos for hours!
It was sad when he had to go, but I am excited for him to come again!
that's why I think you should do Fresh Air Fund, too."
Many Easton families have started to think about their summer plans, their mailboxes full of brochures from local Parks and Rec Programs, YMCAs and camps. As calendars fill up with soccer, baseball, swim team and day camp, the Fresh Air Fund asks families to consider hosting a child.
An information session for prospective hosts will be held Sunday, May 22, at the Westport Library, 20 Jessup Road. The session will be in the Seminar Room on the third floor from 3 to 4:30 p.m. For more information on becoming a Fresh Air Fund host, contact Martha Mintzer at 203-226-6627 or martha_mintzer@yahoo.com.
Have you hosted a child through The Fresh Air Fund? Send your story and photos to shenry@mainstreetconnect.us.
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