To the Editor:

This November, many families in Albany area are thankful for something special: the gift of their friendship with a New York City child.

Each summer, close to 4,000 inner-city children visit suburban, rural, and small-town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada through The Fresh Air Fund’s Volunteer Host Family Program. By volunteering as a host family for the summer of 2015, the spirit of Thanksgiving can continue in your home throughout the year.

“I get to see new things that I don’t get to see in New York City. The best part was having game night once a week. The whole family gets involved,” said Natalie, a Fresh Air child.

Fresh Air children are boys and girls, from 6 to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for one or two weeks.

Children who are re-invited by host families may continue with The Fresh Air Fund through age 18 and can enjoy extended trips. Over 65 percent of all children are re-invited to stay with their host families, year after year.

Through the eyes of Fresh Air children, families often rediscover the beauty of their own communities.

The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. For more information on hosting a Fresh Air child next summer, please contact me at 423-5385 or visit The Fresh Air Fund online at www.freshair.org.

Cynthia Mangione

Fresh Air Fund