The Fresh Air Fund relies on donations to provide memorable summers to NYC children.

The Fresh ... Read More »]]> In 2009, The Fresh Air Fund‘s Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.

The Fresh Air Fund relies on donations to provide memorable summers to NYC children.

The Fresh Air Fund needs hosts for the summer of 2010.

More than 65% of all Fresh Air children are re-invited to stay with their host family, year after year.

Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys ofFresh Air experiences.

Fresh Air Fund Host Families

“It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child’s face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted…”

Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size, ethnicity and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster they would like to host. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just a click away!

Click here to learn more about becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003!

Many Fresh Air children do not have access to affordable vision care. Glasses break, are too expensive to replace, or are never prescribed in the first place. And often as a result, children’s performance in academics, sports and activities suffers. For the fifth summer in a row, OneSight offered to bring their traveling optical clinic to all five Fresh Air Fund camp. Together with OneSight’s Vision Vans – and a team of local doctors and volunteers, OneSight provides ... Read More »]]> One out of four school children in the U.S. has vision problems, and 86% do not get their vision checked before age 12.

Many Fresh Air children do not have access to affordable vision care. Glasses break, are too expensive to replace, or are never prescribed in the first place. And often as a result, children’s performance in academics, sports and activities suffers. For the fifth summer in a row, OneSight offered to bring their traveling optical clinic to all five Fresh Air Fund camp. Together with OneSight’s Vision Vans – and a team of local doctors and volunteers, OneSight provides free eye exams and eyewear to thousands of children in need each year.

This summer at Fresh Air camp, OneSight’s staff screened 3,295 children and counselors, gave 1,757 eye exams, and made 1,629 pairs of glasses, with 1,458 of them on-site and 171 specially driven in. The team stayed at Camp Hayden-Marks for two camp sessions, to make sure every child who needed the gift of sight was screened.

Although you might think some children would be reluctant to be prescribed glasses, most of them are delighted. They’ve been missing out on the world around them for too long. (Being able to pick out their own frames helps, too.) Our friends at OneSight told us about a boy at Camp Mariah who ran to the Vision Van before the team had even begun setting up in the morning. “You guys have the van, right,” he said, clapping and jumping up and down. “The one that I can get glasses from?” We thank OneSight and you, for helping inner-city children receive the services they need.

THE FRESH AIR FUND, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2009, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.  Visit http://freshairvision.org

“For my mother, making a home where her children felt safe and their spirits could soar was just as important as keeping them fed and clothed. Improving and decorating our modest home expressed love for her family.  Through her example, I learned to envision possibilities, creatively shape environments, and the value of hard work involved in transformations,” says Terry.  “From that seed came a love for decorating which began ... Read More »]]> Terry Grahl an interior decorator whose mission is to give hope to ‘at risk’ women and children. Transforming the shelters that save people’s lives into beautiful sanctuaries that heal their spirit.

“For my mother, making a home where her children felt safe and their spirits could soar was just as important as keeping them fed and clothed. Improving and decorating our modest home expressed love for her family.  Through her example, I learned to envision possibilities, creatively shape environments, and the value of hard work involved in transformations,” says Terry.  “From that seed came a love for decorating which began with family and friends, blossomed into a thriving business, and ultimately became a passion for changing shelters for women and children into places of peace and possibilities.  (Not just where basic needs are met, but spiritual needs for hope and beauty also).”

The journey began in January of 2007, when the coordinator of a fund raising event for a local shelter expressed that he would be grateful if Terry would agree to paint even a single wall.   As she viewed the depressing conditions, old prison beds, mold, decrepit paneling, the dingy, sad-looking area where women and children came to escape from domestic violence, or stayed to deal with drug addictions, she found her calling.  “I vowed to create a space for those women and children that would revive their broken spirits and help them heal.”

“Operating from the belief that our environment affects the way we feel about ourselves, how we see the world, and our place in it, I undertook a two year transformation of Grace Centers of Hope Women’s Shelter, Pontiac, Michigan.  Armed with vision and belief that we can act to make our dreams reality, family, friends and community volunteers were recruited and organized to transform the shelter’s bedrooms.  Donations of money and goods were solicited.  Professional contractors and decorators were invited to participate.   An extreme makeover replaced rooms of drab paneling, mismatched bedding and dreary, institutional colors, and in its place,  a bright, cheerful, caring space emerged, punctuated by positive affirmations and items meant to inspire faith, and belief in the power to make dreams a reality.   To emphasize the connection between transforming your environment and changing your life, a motivational speaker conducted a workshop to encourage the shelter’s women to create their own vision of the future, how they would like to transform their own lives into something beautiful.”

The work continues as they build a network of volunteers and begin work on the next ‘extreme makeover,’ benefiting the homeless women and children in their community, visibly demonstrating people care, showing them they are worthy of something better than what they’ve had, creating a lasting lesson that transformations are possible, and that beauty can rise from ashes.

http://www.enchantedmakeovers.org/ Pontiac, Michigan

The trip ended with a sunset.  One of the most beautiful fiery orange/red sunsets I have ever seen.

Sitting in the airplane high above the clouds, to my left the sunset and to my right the moon. What a way to end this incredible journey that started only three days ago.

My husband, mother and I met up with 16 other church friends to travel to Matamoros Mexico, and specifically Casa Bugambilia which is maintained by Juntos Servimos. I thought I had witnessed poverty in parts of our country but that was nothing compared to what we saw in Matamoros.  Our goal ... Read More »]]>

The trip ended with a sunset.  One of the most beautiful fiery orange/red sunsets I have ever seen.

Sitting in the airplane high above the clouds, to my left the sunset and to my right the moon. What a way to end this incredible journey that started only three days ago.

My husband, mother and I met up with 16 other church friends to travel to Matamoros Mexico, and specifically Casa Bugambilia which is maintained by Juntos Servimos. I thought I had witnessed poverty in parts of our country but that was nothing compared to what we saw in Matamoros.  Our goal was to spread God’s love by serving the people in this community.  We assisted prior volunteer teams in completing homes, laying concrete, digging trenches, laying plumbing, and electrical needs.  We also had a great time playing with the local children.  Several others in our group had made this trip in the past, but this one was special.  This trip was dedicated to the memory of five of our dear friends (The Harts) who were tragically killed last June on their way home from church in a car accident.  The Hart family believed in Juntos Servimos, so we set out to carry on their dedication and hard work.

Did I mention poverty.  In this community the homes are on a landfill.  They are handmade from old wood, tossed out metal roofing and in some instances old car hoods.  Property is divided by minimal fencing and the dogs run rampant.  To an outsider, it is probably the ugliest, dirtiest site they have ever seen, but only after a few short hours amazing beauty appears. Beauty more powerful than that sunset.  Smiles, friendliness, trust, gratefulness and appreciation appear.  Every person we encountered was grateful we were there to help.

Every child smiled, was ready to play and of course take a lollipop or two.  I never thought I would say this, but I loved every cinder block I moved, every shovel full of rock I dug, every shovel full of concrete I moved, every brush of paint I placed on that new home and every inch of the ground I moved with a pick axe.  We worked our tails off and we had so much fun doing it because we saw the joy on so many peoples faces.

We made a difference and made their lives better.  Since the Harts are no longer here, it is up to us to continue with their passion.  It is up to us to continue their dedication, service, and love.

My challenge to you.  Even though the economy stinks, even though financial outlooks are bleak, always remember someone, somewhere needs your care.  Please consider volunteering you time, talents or money to a worthy cause.  Juntos Servimos is a great example of an organization reaching out to a community to enrich everyone’s lives.

I asked Larry Cox what plans are currently in motion at Casa Bugambilla.  Larry stated “current work at Casa includes creating space for 20 beds for the ill and abandoned and a center for treatment of diabetes, both of which will be built by volunteers contributing their labor and their funds. And there are plenty of opportunities to work with kids and the 9 we have in care at Casa Bugambilia at present.”

For more information on this mission please contact Larry Cox at 956-763-0326 or visit their website at www.juntosservimos.org.

Now here is the big question–What was the more amazing and beautiful view?  The flaming orange/red sunset…or the joy on the woman’s face who’s new home we laid concrete in???  No question in my mind which was the most beautiful—-what do you think…

God Bless you and we miss you….Geoff, Christy, Becca, Kevinisha and Raven Hart   6-22-08

The president elect has called for a National Day of Service on January the 19th.  On that day he will be making a call to all Americans to seek out longer term projects in their communities.

GiveJust1 (http://www.givejust1.org), a nonprofit, non-partisan organization, calls upon all Americans to give one day of service to their community during the first 100 days of the Obama Administration (January 20 – April 30, 2009). GiveJust1 seeks to facilitate the connection between volunteers and service opportunities across the nation, and make a significant impact over a three month period in every community, great and small. The ... Read More »]]>

The president elect has called for a National Day of Service on January the 19th.  On that day he will be making a call to all Americans to seek out longer term projects in their communities.

GiveJust1 (http://www.givejust1.org), a nonprofit, non-partisan organization, calls upon all Americans to give one day of service to their community during the first 100 days of the Obama Administration (January 20 – April 30, 2009). GiveJust1 seeks to facilitate the connection between volunteers and service opportunities across the nation, and make a significant impact over a three month period in every community, great and small. The organization’s website is rapidly gaining in popularity as the grass roots program reaches Americans nationwide.

Richard Parsons, an entrepreneur based out of Los Angeles, was inspired to start the philanthropic organization after watching round the clock news coverage leading up to the Presidential Election. “I was fascinated with the campaign and messaging from both parties considering the challenges we are facing currently at a global level.  It occurred to me that whomever was to win the election would be measured, as all U.S. Presidents are, by the accomplishments of the first 100 days.  Considering the state of the world, it seems to me that one person or even one parties’ administration shouldering the responsibility for improving things doesn’t seem fair.  So before I walked into my local polling station I committed to making some kind of positive contribution regardless of the election outcome.”

If every one of the 126,686,145 people who voted in the presidential election, regardless of party affiliation, devoted just one day of service to their community, it would equal over a billion man hours in a highly concentrated timeframe.  The scope of this kind of participation is unprecedented and could bring solutions to thousands of communities in need.

The website provides a search tool to help match participants with local access to volunteer opportunities, as well as providing ideas on how to serve.  In lieu of contributions, Givejust1 asks visitors to help their community by giving just one day of their time.

Richard is a long-time friend of mine. I’m thrilled to be able to promote his organization.

Visit www.givejust1.org.  Midlothian, Texas