New York Children Breathe Fresh Air, Briefly Join a County Family

COURT HOUSE – “It’s just an extra potato in the pot,” said Aaron Clauser, when asked how the addition of two Fresh Air Fund children to the family of seven impacts them.
“It takes a day or two for them to learn our routine, and we love having them,” chimed in his wife, Krista, as they watched their five children, ages 7-14, play at the Cape May County Park and Zoo with New Yorkers Steven Gonzalez-Vielma, 8, from the Bronx, and Dakota George, 10, from Brooklyn.
The duo is staying with the Clauser family for a week, with whom they’ve been swimming in the ocean, touring sights around the county such as the Cape May County Zoo and Park, Cape May Lighthouse and World War II Tower, enjoying fudge and having a good time.
Friendships Renewed
“Because Steven and Dakota have been with our family before, our children have developed friendships that last throughout the year,” Clauser, Ph.D., said. “It’s like one big sleepover.”
This is the seventh year the Clausers have hosted Fresh Air Fund children. They have had four different children over that time.
Fresh Air Fund children, ages 7 to 18, live in New York City. According to the Fresh Air Fund program, the majority are from low-income communities. They typically live in apartment buildings and are more familiar with busy city blocks than quiet country roads.
Vacation in New Jersey
Fourteen children joined New Jersey families for one or two weeks this year starting July 11.
“I like getting away from all the noises in the city,” George said when asked about why she liked being a part of the Fresh Air Program. She also has enjoyed boogie boarding at the ocean, chocolate marshmallow fudge, and playing with the Clauser’s cats.
She has joined the Clausers for three previous summers, although this is the first time at the Jersey Shore. The Clausers moved to the county from a “rural” area in Pennsylvania last December.
This is the second year with the Clausers for Gonzalez-Vielma, who enjoyed climbing the lighthouse and World War II tower, swimming and eating fudge as well.
“Because they’ve been with us in the past, they know us, and we know them,” said Krista, who noted that they stay in touch with the children and their families throughout the year, often via Skype. “When we were in Pennsylvania, we did the campfires, woods, all those sorts of things and now they get a different experience with us.”
Just Spending Time
“We don’t go out of our way to do anything different,” noted Clauser. “We do the same things as we always do, like catching fireflies, spending time at the beach and park, and just having fun. There are plenty of things to do that are free or inexpensive.”
Driving the gang of seven children and three adults (Krista’s mother, Donna Strohecker, was also visiting from Pennsylvania) is easy enough in a 12-passenger van, which also has room for items such as beach equipment.
Because Clauser owns an environmental consulting firm, he was able to modify his work schedule to participate in many of the activities during the week with the children.
“It gets a little crazy in the morning with the bathroom,” noted 14-year-old daughter, Kora Clauser.
Kora and her sister, Vera, 12, have had Fresh Air children visiting for about half of their life, so, “It doesn’t really affect us,” said Vera. “We’re used to them and having all the kids, so it doesn’t really affect life for us.”
“The week goes by quickly,” her sister added.
The Program
The Clausers became interested in the program when their friends hosted children during the summer.
Usually the first time for the host family or for the first-time visiting child, the stay is one-week. In other instances, stays can be two weeks. Interested host families undergo background and reference checks, and a home inspection.
“If someone is interested in doing it, I say just ‘Do It!,'” Krista said. “I would suggest looking at the week as a family vacation with a slight change in family dynamics, so you aren’t frustrated. I would encourage people to give it a try.”
The Fresh Air Fund started in 1877 when New York City was overflowing with children living in crowded tenements, according to the program’s website.
Many of those youngsters were hit by a tuberculosis epidemic, and “fresh air” was considered a cure for respiratory ailments.
More than 140 years ago, Rev. Willard Parsons, a minister of a small, rural parish in Sherman, Pa., asked members of his congregation to provide country vacations as volunteer host families for New York City’s neediest children.
That was the beginning of The Fresh Air Fund. By 1881, the work of The Fresh Air Fund was expanding so rapidly that Parsons asked for and secured support from The New York Tribune.
By 1888, The Fresh Air Fund was incorporated as “The Tribune Fresh Air Fund Aid Society.”
Today, The Fresh Air Fund continues to benefit from the support of the media with assistance from The New York Times.
Anyone interested in hosting a child for next summer can find information at http://www.freshair.org/friendly-towns-program.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.