The McSpedon children with their Fresh Air friends: Kevin McSpedon, left, with Fresh Air child Angelica, Marguarette McSpedon, Angelica’s sister Desiree, and Braeden McSpedon enjoying an off-season visit at the McSpedons’ home in Ridgefield. —Sharon McSpedon photo
A program that brings children from the city to experience summers in the country is alive and well in Ridgefield, but it’s always looking for new participants. One host family reports that while it might seem daunting at first, it’s not a great burden to take on.
Ridgefielder Sharon McSpedon decided a few years ago to invite a Fresh Air child into her family’s home, in part to share with her children the ideals of giving back and broadening their perspective on the world outside Ridgefield.
The McSpedons have been hosting Angelica, age 9, of Brooklyn, for more than three years now.
Every summer the McSpedons take Angelica out to their house on Long Island where she has experienced many “firsts.” Her first time fishing, swimming, boating — it was really the first body of water she had ever seen. “It’s like a dream world,” Ms. McSpedon said. “Her eyes are just wide open. She’s amazed at the world outside of the world she lives in.” Although the McSpedons have plenty of activities to offer their Fresh Air child, Ms. McSpedon said it’s time spent as a family that’s most important.
Ms. McSpedon’s two sons, Kevin, 16, and Braeden, 14, like having a “younger sister” to take care of, and she said they’ve matured “quite a bit” with the newfound responsibility. Ms. McSpedon’s oldest daughter, Marguarette, 18, is like a young mother to Angelica, she said. “She teaches her our family rules and routines, tucks her in at night, teaches her life lessons.”
Angelica continues to visit her Fresh Air family during the off-season, and she brings her younger sister along. This past winter Angelica and her sister Desiree traveled up to Ridgefield to cheer on their Fresh Air brother who was playing in a hockey tournament. During that same visit Angelica and Desiree played in the snow for the first time and built their first snowman.
While Ms. McSpedon’s own children help when Angelica and Desiree are in town, there’s also a Fresh Air network that has evolved in and around Ridgefield.
“What people need to understand is, you don’t need to cancel out your whole week. … I don’t change my life, these kids just assimilate in our family.” The Boys & Girls club in Ridgefield and neighboring families help organize events for the Fresh Air children throughout the summer, she said.
The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, is always seeking host families to enable as many New York City children as possible to benefit from a summer vacation outside the city. To learn more about becoming a host family, call Lisa Braden-Harder at 203-438-7238 or visit the website at freshair.org.