THE FRESH AIR FUND, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2008, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.
It is across the other side of the globe (to Australian readers), but as I know at least one person who shot over the US recently, then this is the Fresh Air Fund and it’s possible someone might run into the idea here and then go get themselves involved. I really love initiatives like this that add value to kids lives.
Although not always possible, offering camps free of charge is an ideal position. It leaves to wonder what it would take to organise something like this in Australia. I don’t know of any quite on this scale yet over here but if you poke your nose at the background of Fresh Air, then you’ll realise that it was just a small idea and a banding together of a church to serve those around them that kicked this off.
So if you don’t want to go lead, you could go and donate, or if you happen to live on the right side of the globe, you could even be a host family.
*A note about advertising on this blog. I was asked by email to promote this campsite and am gladly doing so because I think it contributes well to the world and adds to building the kingdom of God. I have been asked before to advertise random things/do a link swaps to things I don’t care about and really, don’t bother unless you think it might be something I would get on board with – otherwise I will just ignore your emails.