Acton Boxborough Family Network (ABFN) is a non-profit group of parents working together to increase and improve local resources for families with young children. More than 200 families in Acton, Boxborough and neighboring towns are active members of ABFN, and the group is managed by roughly 25 volunteer board members.
With support from First Connections and the Justice Resource Institute, the organization was originally founded as the Acton Family Network in 1995. About a decade later, the group was renamed to “Acton Boxborough Family Network” based on an increase in participation and advocacy from Boxborough residents. Over the years, ABFN has evolved and adapted to local needs including incorporating sensory-friendly aspects to their events and hosting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) activities. Following a decline in membership and volunteerism during the pandemic, the group is back to its pre-Covid membership and participation levels.
ABFN primarily caters to families with kids from newborn to six years old, with the goal of connecting and building a community through a variety of family programs. Typical activities include family outings, seasonal parties, parents’ nights out, and playgroups. They also offer member resources like discounts to kid-related businesses, new baby meal trains, and speaker events.
Recent events included their Annual Kindergarten Social in June where rising kindergarteners had an opportunity to meet fellow classmates and take a tour of a school bus to help ease their transition to elementary school, and a guided tour of Great Brook Farm, which is a 1000-acre park and working dairy farm that was home to the first robotic milking system in Massachusetts.
ABFN also organizes a handful of public events each year, including the Annual Halloween Spooktacular, which will be held on Saturday, October 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the RJ Grey Junior High School gymnasium at 16 Charter Road in Acton. The event will include a magic show, fun activities provided by local preschools, crafts, and a costume contest with prizes.
The upcoming Mom’s Night Out Zumba class honors Hispanic Heritage Month, where participants will learn about the history of popular Latin American dance styles like Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, and more. The class, coordinated by ABFN, will take place on Sunday, October 6 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Magenta Dance Place, 6 School St. in Acton.
Families interested in joining ABFN are encouraged to check out the ABFN website at www.abfamily.org and use the discount code “ABFN24FALL”, valid through October 15.
In addition to taking advantage of the discounted membership, ABFN members can participate in age-based playgroups, which are organized in the fall and spring.
Families can also learn more about ABFN by visiting their booth at the upcoming West Acton Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Gardner Field in West Acton.
Amy Gordon has been a Boxborough resident since 2021 and is mother of two young kids, ages two and four. She joined the ABFN Board this year as their Playgroups Coordinator.