The North Central Maine volunteer committee attended The Fresh Air Fund’s annual Friendly Towns Leadership Conference from Feb. 2-4, at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

Over the course of three days, volunteers participated in interactive workshops with The Fresh Air Fund’s staff and community agency partners. Volunteers attended professional development workshops throughout the conference, with topics ranging from children’s safety, to empathy and diversity, to community engagement. Former Fresh Air children delivered keynote speeches, sharing how The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Towns Program greatly impacted their lives.

The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. First time Fresh Air children are boys and girls from seven to 12 years old who live in New York City. Children who are re-invited by host families may continue with The Fresh Air Fund through age 18 and can enjoy extended trips.

Join families in North Central Maine this summer as a volunteer host family and provide Fresh Air children with a unique and fun summer experience in a new environment. Contact Lynne Dailey at 207-314-2173 or visit www.freshair.org to learn more.

Local volunteer leaders, from left, Susan Brooks, Robert Lenfest, Jennifer Tibbetts, Lynne Dailey, Bethany Drouin and Kelly Wright, attended The Fresh Air Fund’s annual Friendly Towns Leadership Conference in New York City. They spent three days participating in professional development workshops, networking, and preparing for a busy host family recruitment season. (Photo: Jerry Speier)