Foxborough Charity Gets Creative To Thrive During Pandemic
FOXBOROUGH, MA — Since 2017, Foxborough nonprofit ConfiKids has worked with families in southeastern Massachusetts to make sure kids can play sports, join a dance class or any other activity regardless of their family's income.
At first, 2020 was supposed to be a normal fundraising year for founder Rachel Calabrese and her board of directors. ConfiKids planned its annual "Foxtober Fest," an annual German beer festival that over 400 people attend. Other large-scale events that the nonprofit relies on to raise money were also expected to bolster ConfiKid's efforts.
But of course, 2020 hasn't been a typical year by any standard amid the coronavirus pandemic. The closing of youth sports fields, dance studios and karate dojos made the first few months of the year a "complete nightmare," Calabrese said. But despite the fundraising challenges COVID-19 presented, ConfiKids got creative, found new ways to raise money and is helping keep kids active and social during these trying times.
And in doing so, ConfiKids was nominated by Foxborough resident Taylor Ford for Patch's favorite local charities series.
Ford complimented the nonprofit's ability to build confidence in kids and lauded the financial aid it offers for families. Calabrese said she was honored to be nominated and spoke about how proud she is of the nonprofit for being where it is today.
Calabrese said she got the idea while working in the Foxborough Recreation Department and coaching youth soccer. There were kids whose families couldn't afford certain activities, so she wanted to do everything she could to keep kids active with their friends.
"I came across kids that weren’t able to take the robotics class we were offering or couldn’t afford soccer," Calabrese said. I put a couple pieces together that if it’s happening in Foxborough, it’s happening in a lot of places."
And now, Calabrese and her board of directors are working hard at finding creative ways to raise money for these kids without increasing the risk of coronavirus spread.
"We did everything from cupcake deliveries to a pumpkin fest, which was pumpkin displays in front of people's yards, where people would drive around and judge them," Calabrese said when asked how ConfiKids can raise money without their large events.
She said there's also been a lot of virtual events, some of which she's collaborated with local sports leagues and businesses like Foxborough Youth Basketball, Foxborough Youth Football and Personal Best Karate to fundraise. Some those leagues and businesses like allowed the nonprofit to put holds on costs for families until those leagues and activities could reopen, Calabrese said.
"Everyone we were working with was so responsible," Calabrese said. "Gyms and dance studios were innovative keeping kids on Zoom. And now, most activities are running when you talk about dance, music lessons and art. We are just funding it differently in smaller increments for if there's a shut down again."
How To Support ConfiKids
Tuesday is Giving Tuesday, a global effort intended to encourage people and organizations to bolster their communities and the world. Calabrese wants residents to consider ConfiKids this Giving Tuesday to help kids continue their activities as fields, rinks, theaters and more open up.
To learn more about ConfiKids or to donate, check out the nonprofits' website here, and also check out some other ways to support its efforts.
This article originally appeared on the Foxborough Patch
