Fresh Air

February may not be the time most people are thinking about summer, however the folks at the Fresh Air Fund are already hard at work planning for their 2009 summer season.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Fresh Air Fund, it's a non-profit organization that has provided free summer vacations in the country for New York City kids from disadvantaged communities since 1877.

That's a darn good track record, if you ask me.

The great thing about the Fresh Air Fund is that you don't have to live on a farm in order to give a kid a memorable time. Suburban environments also have a lot to offer these kids, many of whom may have not seen a tree, let alone a rabbit bounding through a backyard.

Just last year, our local communities hosted 28 Fresh Air Kids.

This is a great program to be involved in.

And there are more ways for involvement that just hosting an inner-city kid.

For one thing, the Fresh Air Fund is currently accepting applications for camp counselors and staff for the summer of 2009. They are seeking college-age men and women who love working with kids.

To apply for a position, or to find out more about this wonderful opportunity to make a big difference in the lives of disadvantaged children, please click on this link: http://freshairfundcounselors.smnr.us/.

It's not just the kids who reap the rewards of this program. The young men and women who worked as staff and counselors found their lives changed for the better in more ways than one can count.

So if you, or someone you know is looking to spend the summer in a meaningful manner, please consider hosting a Fresh Air Kid or participating as a counselor in the Fresh Air Fund Summer Camp Program.