Fresh Air Fund seeks volunteers

Monroe — Here’s an opportunity to share the beauty of the Monroe area with others less fortunate: volunteer for the Fresh Air Fund and host an inner-city child. This summer, thousands of volunteer host families in 13 northeastern states and Canada will open their hearts and homes to New York City children from low-income communities through the fund’s Friendly Town program. The program allows youngsters from New York City to experience simple summer pleasures, like skipping rocks across a lake, smelling newly cut grass, and making new suburban and country friends. “It’s really quiet and you see the stars at night here. At home, you only see street lights,” explained 11-year-old Antonette. Since 1877, the Fresh Air Fund has provided more than 1.7 million inner-city children with the opportunity to enjoy simple country pleasures. Hosts are young families, single professionals, empty nesters, and grandparents, all of whom want to share their communities with an inner-city child. For more information, call Nicole Zahour at 212-897-8908 or the Fresh Air Fund at 800-367-0003, or visit www.freshair.org.