VOORHEESVILLE, N.Y. – Donnel, 14, has been coming to stay with the Brill family in Voorheeseville for the past four years. As part of the Fresh Air Fund, he gets to leave behind the city life of the Bronx and head north for an experience of a lifetime in the suburbs.
"I usually just look around, hang around. Play video game and shoot some hoops," Donnel said.
His host family, Annie and Doug Brill, never imagined how rewarding the experience would be. As part of the Friendly Town Program, Annie and her family open their home to Donnel for a month.
"I think for everybody it is just a life experience. It is always good to be around people that come from a different background than you have. It just broadens your horizons," Annie Brill said.
Since 1877, more than 1.7 million children from New York City have experienced a "Fresh Air" vacation. Each year, a number of families right here in the Capital Region act as host families for the Fresh Air Fund. Our Jaime Kazlo caught up with one family in Voorheesville who has been hosting a child from the Bronx for the past four years.
"Nice place, nice people, nice family," Donnel added.
Fresh Air Children are boys and girls between the ages of six and 18. Children on first time visits are six to 12 and stay for two weeks. If children are reinvited, they can continue up to age 18 and stay for longer periods of time, like Donnel.
"But it's important for families to know that when they have that child or children, we are available to them 24 hours a day. We have a host orientation for people who are interested so they can learn more about the Fresh Air Fund. Also they get a chance to talk to families who have already done this and have been doing this for years," said Veronica Cruz, a Fresh Air Fund representative.
"His mom considers us his second family. He expects that he is going to come and we expect to have him. It’s really been easy," said Brill.
Brill says one of the biggest misconceptions about being a host family is that you have to change your everyday life. She says Fresh Air kids are just happy to be out of the city and in a new environment.
"I think people think they have to give life lessons. They really think they have to change their personal life. I think if you just take it easy, take one child at a time. Look at your family and look at theirs and just blend them," Brill said.
Brill says she and her family will continue to host Donnel as long as he wants to make the trip. She says it is worth giving him several weeks of "fresh air" and a fresh outlook on life.
For more information, visit www.freshair.org.