Fresh Air children come to Long Island

Some of the children walked off the bus hugging their old friends. Others looked more awkward with the strangers they had just met. Though they had been waiting more than an hour and a half in the heat and direct sunlight, the 10 families were in good spirits when they greeted the children they would be hosting for a week.

These Nassau County families, which included residents of Long Beach, Rockville Centre, Garden City and Lynbrook, each took in a child from Aug. 1 to Aug. 8 through the Fresh Air Fund. Founded in 1877, the Fresh Air Fund brings children from New York City to the suburbs and the country to enjoy a summer vacation in the outdoors. Some families were hosting a child again, while others were first-timers.

People had brought balloons and homemade signs to greet their guests, and many had plans to visit the beach or the pool during the week. Fresh Air had organized trips to Adventureland in Farmingdale and White Post Farms in Melville.

But first the bus carrying the children had to get from the Port Authority Bus Terminal to the Hicksville Sears parking lot. The bus bringing the children was delayed by traffic.

“We came early to talk to a lot of other families to get some more information,” said Terri McCaffrey of Rockville Centre, who was there with her husband Patrick and 18-month-old daughter Kenna.

It was their first year as a fresh air family. McCaffrey said she heard about the program through the Food Network show “Chopped” — a contestant on the show said they had been part of the program. Also, McCaffrey’s co-worker at Plaza Elementary School in Baldwin said she had hosted a child and encouraged McCaffrey to join.

She said they hoped to give their child, Skky K., 9, a really great week “full of memories.” (The Fresh Air Fund asked that the Herald only use last initials.)

Parked a few feet away was Teresa McCarthy of Long Beach. Her family owns a bowling alley, Farmingdale Lanes, which has hosted parties for the Fresh Air children and their host families for the past four years.

Her daughters, Grace, 8, and Anna, 6, were excited to see Aza A., 9, for the third year in a row, and had kept up the friendship with cards and gifts throughout the year.