Fifteen children from New York City are spending this week in the Buffalo area, courtesy of the Fresh Air Fund. The program gives urban kids a chance to experience life away from the big city.
Last Friday, a bus arrived in Williamsville filled with 15 children from New York City. Sadiya Robinson was among them. She's staying with the Tisdale family in Cheektowaga.
"This is my fourth time coming here," Sadiya said. "It's so quiet here."
Some of the children are away from home for the first time. Others are returning to visit the same host families they spent time with in previous summers. Cheryl Flick is a local volunteer for the Fresh Air Fund.
"The kids talk about what they did for the first time, such as eat a s'more, have a picnic outside or ride a bike around the block," Flick said. "I can't tell you the number of kids who have never looked up at the sky in New York City and seen stars."
The Fresh Air Fund has been providing these free summer experiences since 1877. Each summer, thousands of children visit volunteer host families not just in our area but throughout the East Coast and Canada.
