DeWitt, NY -- As 18-year-old Marc Fairley stepped off the bus Wednesday afternoon in DeWitt, he was greeted with big hugs from two members of his host family, Jill Ryan and her 16-year-old son, Liam. This is the 11th year Marc has stayed with the Ryans as part of the Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Town program. He was among...
Jill Ryan (middle), of Cazenovia, and her son, Liam Ryan (right), 16, greet Marc Fairley, 18, of Bronx, Wednesday at Holy Cross Church int De Witt. Fairley, a participant in the Fresh Air Fund program, returned to stay with the Ryan family for the 11th year.DeWitt, NY -- As 18-year-old Marc Fairley stepped off the bus Wednesday afternoon in DeWitt, he was greeted with big hugs from two members of his host family, Jill Ryan and her 16-year-old son, Liam.
This is the 11th year Marc has stayed with the Ryans as part of the Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Town program. He was among eight children from the New York City area who traveled to DeWitt to stay with host families for one to two weeks. Another 25 children who also traveled on the bus are going to Camillus and other areas of Central New York to be with their host families.
“I’m excited to be with my family,” said Marc, who is from the Bronx and has traveled here at Christmas several times to be with his surrogate family, who live in Cazenovia. “They treat me just like I’m family, and it’s nice to just relax and be with them. That’s all that I need.”
The Ryans will swim and boat on Cazenovia Lake, go A water park and Liam said he’ll golf and go to Sylvan Beach with Marc. “It’s like having your brother come and visit,” Liam said.
Cheers, hug and handmade “Welcome” signs greeted the children as they stepped off the bus and found their host families. This is the first time 6-year-old Jazmere Brown has been part of the program, and she’ll stay for a week with Paula Douglas of Cazenovia and her family.
Jazmere was off the bus only for a moment before she and Paula’s daughter, 5-year-old Claire, clasped hands. “I want to play with Claire,” Jazmere said. Clare is an only child, her mother said, and has always wanted a sibling. This way, she gets a “summer sister.”
Marie Canfield, who chairs the Friendly Town Dewitt program, said the idea is for the kids from New York city to come and relax with their host families. “Walk in the grass barefoot, see the stars, be outdoors and just enjoy a slower pace - that’s what it’s all about,” she said.
Overall, about 125 kids will spend time with host families in CNY this summer, Canfield said.