LANCASTER — The crew behind The Joseph and Leslie Carr Foundation are looking forward to their next big fundraiser and inviting the public to be a part of it as a way to support their important mission — taking care of those in the community in need.
The fifth annual Nashoba Rock N Brewfest is slated for Saturday, June 20, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Bolton Fairgrounds in Lancaster, 318 7 Bridge Road. Tickets for the 21+ event include unlimited samples from over 30 different brewers, canned cocktails vendors and distilleries including local favorites such as Sterling Street Brewery out of Clinton and Thirsty Robot Brewing Company from Fitchburg.
In addition, there will be outdoor yard games, live music with the bands Eavesdrop and Miss Fairchild, and five food trucks — Wheat And Water Crafted Doughz, Cousins Maine Lobster, Smokin 51, Lalos Mexican and Twizted Pickle.
All proceeds benefit The Joseph and Leslie Carr Foundation, a Lancaster-based nonprofit organization that supports food and diaper banks, women’s shelters and veterans services across the region. They also feed families at WHEAT Community Connections in Clinton every month and every year provide food baskets for 650 families for Christmas along with Christmas presents for over 200 underprivileged youth.
“It’s our favorite event of the year and we usually have about 700 attendees,” said David Carr. “Brewfest is by far the hardest event that we put on, but also the most fulfilling. It’s a great community event that showcases local vendors, food trucks, and live music, and everyone always has a lot of fun.”
He along with two of his siblings — BethAnne Arnold of Shirley and Michelle Harris of Sterling — continue to run The Joseph and Leslie Carr Foundation, which they launched in 2020 in honor of their late parents. Since then, along with a legion of dedicated volunteers, they have packed and distributed thousands of holiday meals to people and families in 21 towns and cities across Worcester and Middlesex counties among other humanitarian efforts.
“We live in a time where over a million people in this state don’t know where their next meal is coming from, including nearly 40% of families with children,” David Carr shared. “We have been blessed to be surrounded by a community of family, friends, neighbors and strangers who believe in giving back and $.97 cents out of every dollar we raise goes directly back into the community.”
They have put an impressive $300,000 back into the community and the food basket program their father started with the Medford Rotary Club in 1980 continues to this day feeding families every year for Christmas.
“We were raised by parents who thought it was always important to give back,” David Carr relayed.
His sister Michelle Harris said the Nashoba Rock-N-Brewfest is one of their primary fundraisers and that they are grateful to be able to continue honoring their parents.
“The reason the work we do is important is because we get to help others in our parents’ memory,” she said. “Growing up we always had extra people and kids at our table. Our parents were incredibly generous and giving people, always looking to help those around us in need. To be able to continue that legacy is an honor.”
Tickets are available by visiting jlcarrfoundation.org/brewfest, with VIP tickets including an extra hour of sampling and a $5 token that can be used at any of the food trucks. People can save $5 on tickets by using the code BUY NOW.
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