Area volunteers attend Fresh Air Fund conference

NEW YORK CITY – Four representatives of the Fresh Air Fund’s Central Maine volunteer committee attended organization’s annual Friendly Towns Leadership Conference in New York City recently.

Katrina Cash-Staley, of Naples, Timothy and Marie Reimensnyder of New Gloucester, and Rosemary Stanhope of Casco attended the three-day conference, participating in interactive workshops with The Fresh Air Fund’s staff and community agency partners, and attending professional development workshops throughout the conference, with topics ranging from children’s safety, to empathy and diversity, to community engagement, according to a news release from the organization.

Former Fresh Air child Ernest Morales, commanding officer of the New York Police Department 42nd Precinct in The Bronx, delivered the keynote speech, telling volunteers in attendance how much the Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Towns program had an impact on his life.

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, according to the release. First time Fresh Air children are boys and girls, from seven to 12 years old, who live in New York City. Children who are reinvited by host families may continue with The Fresh Air Fund through age 18 and can enjoy extended trips.

For more information on Fresh Air Fund volunteering or hosting, contact Timothy Reimensnyder at 926-3557 or visit The Fresh Air Fund online at www.freshair.org.

PHOTO CAPTION: Local volunteer leaders, (left to right) Katrina Cash-Staley, Timothy Reimensnyder, Marie Reimensnyder and Rosemary Stanhope Snow attended the annual Friendly Towns Leadership Conference in New York City February 3rd through February 5th. Volunteers attended professional development workshops throughout the conference, with topics ranging from children’s safety, to empathy and diversity, to community engagement.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jerry Speier