A breath of fresh air …

STANFORDVILLE — The Fresh Air Fund has been bringing city children to the countryside for more than 130 years. In 1887, Rev. William Parsons, who was pastor of a small church in Pennsylvania’s rural Sherman parish, asked his congregation to invite some of New York City’s neediest children to stay with them for a summer vacation away from the crowded urban streets. That was the start of the Fresh Air Fund.

People from Dutchess County have always responded to the call. Many local families sponsor a child, or sometimes children, to spend quality time in the rolling green hills of the country.

Among those hosting children are Ann Eustace and her husband, Jim. They have two homes: one in London, UK, and one in Stanfordville. They love both and are able to spend equal time in each home.

But summers in Stanfordville might be a bit more special, they said, because they typically host a child from the Fresh Air Fund. This year they are hosting Fernando Hernandez, 11. He also spent time with them last summer. He is one of five children, and his siblings have been involved with the program at various times.

Fernando said he loves coming to this area. 

“It’s peaceful”, he said, “and there’s so much space.” 

He said he loves visiting the Eustaces because there is so much to do. He learned to swim and to fish. He also learned how to play badminton and do archery. He just recently went to his first baseball game, sponsored by Dutchess County. Before the game, he got a few pointers on how to play ball, something he is now looking forward to trying.

Fernando has some happy memories to take back with him to Staten Island, where he lives, and where he will be starting middle school in the fall. He said he’s already looking forward to next year’s visit, hopefully for two weeks in 2017. He loves the wildlife he gets to see in the backyard, and the woods nearby. There’s a huge pond on the Eustace property, and wildlife there as well.

Fernando is a very special child, according to his host family; he is helpful, thoughtful and fun. He also has impeccable manners. He loves to draw, and John Eustace said he’s quite good at it. He also writes “scary” stories and has learned that he loves salmon and broccoli.  

The Eustaces said they are glad to have Fernando back for a second visit. They said he is more confident than he was last year, and they are proud of some of the accomplishments he has made, including a 27-page book he wrote of short, scary stories. 

As with so many other Fresh Air Fund family hosts, the Eustaces said that they get much from the visit — this year from the one child, last year from two. Worried that he might be a little bored being by himself, they arranged a play date with children from Millbrook. 

“They talk about what we do for them, but they have so much more to offer us,” Ann Eustace said.

Host families are always needed, but it’s a process, so it takes some time to apply and be approved. This year there were more available homes than children, but that is unusual, and may be due to a change in paperwork. Next year, host families will be needed once again.  Ann and Jim Eustace are already looking forward to hosting Fernando for a third time, for two weeks if the dates work out, and with another child to keep him company.

To learn more about the Fresh Air Fund or how to host a child, go to www.freshair.org/history-and-mission.