The Fresh Air Fund, which transports more than 4,000 inner-city children to suburban, rural and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada each summer, is seeking local families interested in hosting a child this summer.

The program, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Fresh Air children are boys and girls, from six to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for one or two weeks. Children who are reinvited by host families may continue with The Fresh Air Fund through age 18 and can enjoy extended trips. More than 65 percent of all children are reinvited to stay with their host families, year after year.

“The Fresh Air Fund enriches everybody’s lives; you don’t have to entertain the child, just let him or her be a part of your life," says Nikki, a Fresh Air host.

For details about hosting a Fresh Air child this summer, contact Mary Beth Deutsch at (804) 285-3354, 804-453-9091 or The Fresh Air Fund at 800-367-0003. You may also visit The Fresh Air Fund online at http://www.freshair.org