By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
Through the Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit agency, 30 inner city children three visiting Long Beach came to Long Island to spend more time outdoors and experience another side of life. The children come from different parts of New York, like Springfield Gardens, the Bronx, Staten Island and East New York.
Since 1877, the Fresh Air Fund has provided free summer vacations to children across the United States. Children are selected to participate in the Fresh Air Fund Friendly Town programs based on financial need. Children can register through social services or community organizations in all five boroughs of New York City.
Gerri Gozlik and her family volunteered to host two sisters from Springfield Gardens. For the past week, 12-year-old Jelisa and her 6-year-old sister, Kabresha, have taken in the sights and sounds of Long Beach. They've seen the beach, walked the Boardwalk, played across the bridge in Shell Creek Park, and danced to the tunes of a beach concert at night.
I really like it, Jelisa said of Long Beach. I like the beach, the park was nice. I like to put my feet in the water.
What Jelisa really liked was the Gozlik's four cats: Brandy, Smokey, Spec and Lube. The girls said they missed their mother but having each other made them feel better. While getting homesick is natural, Gozlik tries to keep the girls busy with lots of activities.
And she feels it's healthy for the girls to visit new places and to be in a different environment. It provides stimulation.
I think they just love it here, Gozlik said. Everybody has been so kind to them. It's just a happy experience.
For Tamar and Bruce Sklover, they have spent their week with 9-year-old Rhonda from East New York. In the last week, Rhonda has gotten a manicure, visited the Arts and Crafts fair on the Boardwalk and, of course, gone to the beach.
We took her to the beach, Tamar Sklover said, and she had a blast.
Sklover's main goal with Rhonda has been to do many outdoor activities. Rhonda's mother said that at home she can't go out during the day because it's not safe, Sklover said. And Sklover said her own 9-year-old daughter Jordana has had a great time playing with Rhonda. While Rhonda had the opportunity to have her own room, Sklover said, she wanted to share a room with Jordana.
Since the Sklovers are observant Jews, Sklover feels that she has been able to show Rhonda how other people live.
It's an opportunity to see that there is another way of living and that there are other opportunities, Sklover said. She spent Shabbas with us.
For Rhonda, this was her first time away from home and was homesick, but after a few days with the Sklovers she adjusted. And she even had her first sleep-over party with other children.
And for a parting gift, one of Sklover's co-workers bought Rhonda her favorite movie, The Grinch with Jim Carrey, to take home.
It's just been an interesting thing for my daughter, Sklover said. She is not exposed to a lot of different cultures. This was an eye opener for her. She has wanted to do this for years.
For Linda McGuiness, this is her second time hosting 9-year-old Demetri Morrison, who is from the Bronx. Demetri arrived in Long Beach on Sunday, July 14. McGuiness said she planned on taking Demetri to the beach, the pool, the beach concerts and even to Southampton.
Last year, her son Kyle and Demetri attended Coleman Country Day Camp in Merrick. The camp sponsors the Fresh Air Fund children if the host family has a child who currently attends. But this year, Kyle is attending camp at Hofstra University, so Demetri enrolled in the morning program at the Recreation Center.
Since Kyle doesn't have siblings, he said Demetri is like a brother to him and he looks forward to his visits in the summer.
He is very nice. 9-year-old Kyle said. Whether it's swimming in the water an activity that Demetri learned while visiting the McGuinesses or playing miniature golf, both boys get along well.
As for the City of Long Beach, Demetri said, It's good. It's fun. Last year, he said, they visited the carnival, played games and even went deep sea fishing something he had never done before.
My son came home from camp and they hugged, McGuiness said, it was a beautiful thing.
And she said, the boys are great together. While playing on the computer, They just squeeze onto one chair. They don't care.
McGuiness was chosen to be the Long Island Public Relations Coordinator for the Fresh Air Fund. Last year, a few families participated in the program but this year there was a significant increase. Still, she feels there should be more.
My main thing in life is that I really believe that everybody is here to make the world a better place, she said. And last year, she said, she gave Demetri books to read when he got home. This year he returned the books and he brought new ones.
McGuiness said, all of the children are medically insured by the Fresh Air Fund in cases of emergency.
While most children were arriving for their visits last week, Ashante Goodwin of Brooklyn was just ending hers with Point Lookout resident Carol Hughes. The Hughes have been the host family of Ashante for the last three years.
Having participated in the program for nearly six years, Hughes said many families build relationships and request the same families.
Many host families will see the children over the winter break, she said.
As many of the children live in apartment houses in Manhattan, Hughes said when they come to visit, they get to do things that they don't usually do. They are just happy to be able to ride their bikes and be outside.
And she believes that it's a good experience for everyone.
Each year, a meeting for the current Fresh Air Fund parents is held and former children in the program speak about their past experiences. One girl's recent story, Hughes said, really touched her. The girl said she now models her own family life based on what she experienced years ago as a Fresh Air Fund Child. And, Hughes believes, that's what makes it worth it being a host family.
