Since 1877, the nonprofit organization Fresh Air Fund has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million children from New York City neighborhoods.

Michelle Stephenson, a 6-year-old girl from Manhattan, is one of those lucky children. Stephenson was asked to return to the Marinelli household in Farmingdale after spending a week with the family during the summer of 2004.

According to her host mother Stephanie Marinelli, Stephenson was not only fun to have around, but also great "because my daughter is an only child."

Marinelli said she made the decision to become a Fresh Air Fund host family with her husband Christopher and daughter Alyssa, who will be entering second grade at Woodward Parkway Elementary School in the fall.

"I heard about it through the Woodward Parkway PTA newsletter," Marinelli explained. "I thought it would be nice to have someone over for a couple of weeks and also help someone out."

During her past visit, the Marinelli's shared family activities such as swimming, visits to Jones Beach, Adventureland and White Post Farm with Stephenson.

"They get along very well," Marinelli said. "They act like sisters and actually dress up like twins."

Marinelli's daughter cried when her weeklong visit was over and Stephenson had to return home.

"But they keep in touch," Marinelli said. "They talk on the phone and my daughter can write letters now, so she will be writing to her."

Marinelli and her family enjoyed the experience of meeting Stephenson and hosting her mini summer vacation.

"I hope to do it every summer, forever, if I could," Marinelli added.

Children are selected to participate in The Fresh Air Fund Friendly Town program based on financial need. Children are from low-income communities, with the majority receiving some form of public assistance. Fresh Air children, boys and girls from 6 to 18 years old, visit over 300 Fresh Air Friendly Towns in the summer. Fresh Air children on first-time visits to Friendly Town host families are 6 to 12 years old and stay for two weeks. The program also has a special one-week option for New York City families who would like to host children on their summer vacations in the country. Over 65 percent of all children are re-invited to stay with host families, year after year. Re-invited youngsters may continue with the Fund through age 18, and many spend the entire summer in the country. Fresh Air children and volunteer families often form bonds of friendship that last a lifetime.

Fresh Air Fund volunteer host families open their homes to inner-city children for two weeks or more in the summertime. There are no financial requirements for hosting a Fresh Air child. Most hosts simply want to share their homes with inner-city youngsters. Host families are not paid. The Fund has a program for placing children who have special physical or emotional needs.

To become a host family, volunteer or make a donation call 800-367-0003 or visit www.freshair.org.