Fresh Air Fund Kids Arrive in Bedford

The Gorman Family of Bedford is made up of five members: Dad Michael, mom Hannah and three sons Kineo, age 12, Hugo, age 10 and five-year-old Whip.

But in the summer, that number jumps to six. 

That's because the Gormans host a child for a two-week stay through the Fresh Air Fund, which places almost two million New York City children with volunteer host families for summer vacation, in 13 states and Canada.

Last summer, 11-year-old Brooklyn resident Quamel Lewis may have had a brief visit with the Gormans, but he has kept a place in their hearts all year long.

"We're all excited," said Hannah Gorman last week, of Quamel's impending arrival. "He's going to sleep in Kineo's room, because Kineo's off at sleepaway camp."

About 15 families in Northern Westchester host Fresh Air Fund kids each year, said Tracey Matson, a volunteer coordinator with the organization. Matson interviews families and faciliates the matches with visiting children; she said there are always more children than available host families.

Last Friday was "drop-off day," when children arrived on a bus to the parking lot at the Golden's Bridge Shopping Center on Route 22.

Erika Long, a Pound Ridge resident and Bedford school board member, was waiting in the lot to greet 9-year-old Aliyah for the second summer in a row.

"This is her second summer with us and she's a part of our family," said Long. She's got an incredible sense of adventure, tries any kind of food at least once, and has impeccable manners.  We consider ourselves very fortunate to have gotten to know her and look forward to sharing many more summers with her."

The Gormans decided to participate in the program following their own experiences serving as a Big Brother and Big Sister. When a flyer about Fresh Air came home through backpack mail, they saw their chance to give their three sons a similar experience. 

"We wanted [our kids] to get involved in a way that would be fun for them, and for Quamel in coming out here," Michael said. "He's a great kid. He brings a lot of extra spice to the party." 

Quamel enjoys reading and spending time in the Gorman's backyard, which they describe as a "big outdoor playground." 

"Bedford is a great environment to bring kids out of the city, you have all these amazing resources like Pound Ridge Reservation," Michael said. 

The Gormans are supported by their friends in the community in their decision to participate in the Fresh Air Fund. In fact, their friends often ask when Quamel is coming to visit. He is so outgoing and friendly that he has made a name for himself in the community. 

"Everyone asks when he's coming," Hannah said. "He is such a bold little boy." 

Michael feels participating in the Fresh Air Fund is a wonderful thing for the city children, but also for the suburban families that take them in.

"It is a tremendous experience for them and their kids," he said. 

Hannah adds that people don't realize how easy it is to enroll Fresh Air Fund children in local camps, where they have a wonderful time and meet lots of other children both local and from the city as well. 

This summer, Quamel will attend the Bedford Village Day Camp which admits Fresh Air Fund children without charge. He attended the camp last summer, and had a wonderful time. However, Quamel was afraid of the water and has yet to conquer the pool. 

"We're going to tempt him with Skittles to get him to swim this year," Hannah said. "Skittles are his favorite, he loves candy. He's a sugar man."

The Gormans, who have never met Quamel's family, praise his mother for raising such a wonderful child. They say he arrives with a suitcase neatly packed, and describes him to be neat and meticulous. 

"He is not like a Gorman boy!" Hannah jokes. 

This summer the Gorman's hope to meet Quamel's mom when his stay comes to an end. Although the Fresh Air Fund kids usually take a bus out of the city and back, Quamel will be staying slightly longer at the Gorman's so that he can spend time with Kineo, who will be away for some of the visit at sleepaway camp. 

But for Quamel, the Fresh Air Fund has done more than introduced him to mosquitos, deer ticks and grassy backyards. It has brought him a second home, to which he has become a member of a second family. 

"We love him so much," Hannah said. "We got so lucky that it all came together so well." 

 The visits wrap up on Monday July 19. For more information on the Fresh Air Fund, click here.