Fresh Air volunteers need your help to create another fun-filled summer for children from New York City. Each summer, over 4,000 children visit volunteer host families in rural, suburban and small town communities across thirteen states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. Last year, 227 New York inner-city children spent part of their summers in Maine, and this year The Fresh Air Fund is hoping even more children will be able to enjoy Maine and all it has to offer.

Lisa Bouchard, a Fund Representative for Central Maine’s Fresh Air Fund Volunteer Host Family Programs, stated “We have many wonderful host families here in Maine, some of whom have hosted the same children year after year. However, we are looking for additional host families so that more children can come to Maine and participate in a safe and fun summer experience. There are no financial requirements for hosting a Fresh Air child.”

First-time Fresh Air visitors range in age from 6 to 12 years old, and stay for up to two weeks.  More than 65 percent of all children are re-invited to stay with the same host families, year after year, often forming bonds that last a lifetime.

For more information about becoming a volunteer host family, contact The Fresh Air Fund at 800-367-0003 or call the local volunteer, Lisa Bouchard at 207-522-7781. Go to www.freshair.org for more information.