Valley families welcome kids from New York City

You know that feeling when friends become family?

13-year-old Tanyia Dawkins of Brooklyn, NY does.

For the fourth straight year, Dawkins is staying with the King family in Harrisonburg through Fresh Air, a program that allows kids from New York City to spend anywhere from one to two weeks during the summer with a family in the area.

Dawkins even went as far as saying she has another last name: "King."

"They are very nice people," Dawkins said. "Very adventurous. Force me to get out of bed."

Dawkins is being hosted by Lori and Michael King, and their daughter Oliva. Before hosting Dawkins, the Kings hosted a boy since they have an older son.

The host families for the 33 kids making the trip down this summer live in Mount Solon, Dayton, Harrisonburg, New Market, Churchville, Woodstock, Weyers Cave, Linville, Front Royal, Barboursville, Port Republic, Grottoes, Bridgewater, Winchester, and Elkton.

They arrived in the parking lot of the Valley Mall in Harrisonburg just after 3:30 p.m. on Monday.

As for Olivia's plans for Dawkins, she says they will spend time at the pool, camping in the backyard and maybe even making a trip up to Washington, D.C. for a Washington Mystics game at the Capital One Arena.

The program also makes an impact on the parents.

"It's a lifelong experience no matter how long they stay with you," Lori King said.

"Being able to see a change in them from the time they get here to the time they leave," Michael King said. "It's probably them not wanting to leave. So you know they've had a good time."

Dawkins already has plans to return to Harrisonburg for a fifth straight year next summer, but now that she's here, after a long bus ride, she's ready for something she doesn't have at home.

"Chick-Fil-A."

For more information on Fresh Air, visit their website