“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
-Leo Buscaglia
Giving Tuesday
November 17, 2025Dear Friends,
As the holiday season approaches, our volunteer board has been reflecting on how far we have come — and how grateful we are for you. For more than a century, the Children’s Fresh Air Home (CFAH) has been a place where children living with hardship could find respite, joy, and hope. That legacy has always been fueled by generosity from you, from churches, local businesses, and volunteers who provided food, activities, medical care, and the financial support to keep our mission alive even when we had to close the home for massive renovations.
Thanks to your ongoing support, we have completed one of the most ambitious undertakings in our history: the full renovation of our 100-year-old Home. Instead of tearing down this historic building, we chose to preserve its exterior while completely rebuilding the interior. This approach honors both the spirit of our mission and the physical history of the Home, ensuring its strength for another century of service.
Over the past several years, we have:
- Rebuilt the foundation to current FEMA standards and secured the structure for long-term stability.
- Installed a full-capacity nursing station and commercial-grade kitchen.
- Restructured the interior with an elevator and bathrooms to ensure ADA compliance.
- Completed a total restoration of the exterior, including windows, doors, porches, roof, siding, and
soffits.
Today, the interior is complete and we are working on furnishing the home to welcome the next generation of kids for a much needed summer respite. Every wall, floor, utility, and fixture is brand new. With central heating and air conditioning, the home will now be a multi-seasonal retreat, with the capacity to serve children and partner groups year-round. And most importantly, in Summer 2026, CFAH will once again welcome overnight campers ages 7–13 for week-long stays filled with fun, learning, and healing.
Click to read the full letter…
Video tour and update thanks to Wildwood Video Archive!
Help us Cut the Ribbon in 2025
The summer of 2024 saw 8 groups of children enjoy a sun-soaked summer in North Wildwood. With Trips to the Beach, Lighthouse and mini golf. Along with outdoor fun in the yard and a delicious summer barbecue. A GREAT time was had by all.
Thank you to all of our summer volunteers who made the children’s stay an enjoyable one. We could not have done it without you.
Also a major THANK YOU to all of our supporters who make summer a reality for such deserving children from our region.
We are incredibly grateful for your support through the years. The steadfast commitment of our volunteers and donors has enabled us to maintain the mission and vision that Ida Dukes created over 100 years ago. The home is nearly restored; now it is time to reopen our doors as the place where children can restore their hope and spirits.
Together, we can create a summer that will not only brighten the lives of these children but also set them on a path toward a brighter future.
“Help Us Cut the Ribbon”
A campaign to finish the interior of the Home
The Board of Directors of The Children’s Fresh Air Home
The Children’s Fresh Air Home (CFAH) is a non-profit organization that provides a no-cost, enriching summer experience at the Jersey Shore in a safe, positive environment for children who may be living with family or community adversities.
The Children’s Fresh Air Home is located at 1100 Surf Ave, North Wildwood, NJ 08260.
Mail and donations may be sent to P.O. Box 413, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
Contact us at (609) 577-9103 or via email at info@freshairhome.org.
