Hopkinton is a Great Escape for Inner-City Children

Submitted by the Fresh Air Fund

After a fun-filled day of summer activities, enjoying the peace and quiet of a starry night sky is the perfect getaway; Naquaan, of the Bronx, did just that. Since 2011, Catherine and Robert Buday of Hopkinton have welcomed Naquaan into their home through The Fresh Air Fund’s Volunteer Host Family Program. A summer vacation away from the hustle and bustle of New York City offers a new perspective and an opportunity to experience the simple pleasures of summertime.

Whether it was riding bikes, going to the lake, or swimming at Water Wizz, Naquaan could not get enough of the outdoors. One of Catherine’s fondest memories with Naquaan was riding their bikes together to the local garden center to look at flowers. “The owner of the flower shop met Naquaan and promised she would send him pumpkins in the fall so he could experience a New England autumn,” said Catherine. This past fall, Naquaan received pumpkins all the way from Hopkinton.

Along with his excitement for outdoor summer activities, Naquaan also enjoyed the peace and quiet. “Every night, Naquaan would lie on his bed and just listen. He was fascinated by how quiet it was outside,” said Catherine.

“From the first day he was here, we knew it was the right thing to do. Opening your heart to a child is such a rewarding experience,” Catherine said. “Not only is the experience good for the child, but for you and your family as well.” The Buday family looks forward to welcoming Naquaan back to Hopkinton again this summer.

Through The Fresh Air Fund’s Volunteer Host Family Program, families from Virginia to Maine and Canada open their homes to New York City children from low-income communities. Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund has given the joy of a free summer vacation to more than 1.7 million inner-city children, creating thousands of childhood memories in rural, suburban and small town communities every year.

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 of the city. To learn more about how to become a host family in Hopkinton, please contact Kathryn Younis, the local volunteer leader for the Central Massachusetts area, at (508) 435-5010 or visit The Fresh Air Fund at www.freshair.org.