BY TOM CAIAZZA
Staff Writer
TOM CAIAZZA Host families greeted New York City children as they stepped off a bus in Holmdel last week as part of the Fresh Air Fund program. HOLMDEL – When the buses pulled up, they were met by a pep rally.
Children and adults held signs and cheered, anxiously awaiting the occupants of the buses to come on down.
Holmdel Park was alive and resembled “The Price Is Right” TV game show. The 80-plus families waited as, one by one, their new additions were called, stepping off the bus and into their lives. The local Fresh Air Fund volunteer committee greeted some 80 New York City children who will be living in Monmouth County with host families for a week.
The children, who range in age from 6 to 18, will spend their vacation with area families who will take them to the beach, fishing, whatever the children choose. For most of these children, this may be their only vacation.
Donnalynn Zapcic, the Northern Monmouth Fresh Air Fund chairwoman, along with Beth Judge and Corinne LeBaron, have taken what a few years ago was a handful of host families and have seen that list grow to 80 strong.
“Two years ago we had 10 families,” Zapcic said. “In two years we went from 10 to 80.”
Karen Medlin was among those early families. She said that the turnout this year was astounding and that the reception is much friendlier and warmer than it has been. She credits Zapcic for that.
Medlin, an eight-year veteran of the program, while speaking to anxious first-year families, offered her reasons for coming back year in and year out.
“The kids love it,” Medlin said. “My kids love it, and you’ll love it.”
Zapcic offered her thanks to all the families and wanted to stress that though many of the hosts are nuclear families, the group takes all kinds of hosts.
“We have single professionals and empty-nesters in addition to the family with two parents, two kids and a dog,” Zapcic said.
The Fresh Air Fund, an independent nonprofit, has been in existence since 1877 and has provided free summer vacations to children in 13 northeastern states and Canada. Over the years, more than 1.7 million children have visited families in suburban and rural areas, many of whom come back year after year to what have become a second family.
Colleen Steineke of Holmdel said that it is a good experience for both her own children and the ones from the city.
“It’s good to combine worlds,” Steineke said. “I want my children to experience another culture. It’s good for all children to bump up harmoniously.”
Steineke said she intends to keep things simple, not over-planning the week with the 8-year-old girl her family will be hosting.
“With all kids it is simple things,” Steineke said. “They will sleep in the same room, stay up late and giggle.”
The fund was able to muster support from local businesses to provide free or discounted admission to the Spring Lake Theater or Lakewood BlueClaws baseball games.
Cindy Minervini, a first-year host and mother of three, said that it was good for her children to experience another way of life and to appreciate the things that they have.
Zapcic said that prospective host families are vetted in advance, and each member of the family sits for a one-hour interview to ensure that the entire family, not just one or two members, want the child.
Zapcic said that anyone can be a host family, saying it only takes a little love to become one.
“Anyone can if you have love in your heart and are willing to make new friends and share the glorious gifts we have here in Monmouth County,” Zapcic said.