An ambitious group of Barrington children are selling face coverings to raise money for a worthy cause.

The Confetti Kids — a group of local children between the ages of 10 and 13 who perform community service projects — are working with a New Bedford-based clothing manufacturer to create hundreds of face coverings, each bearing the Barrington Eagles colors and logo.

The money raised through the sale of the face coverings — they are priced at $7 each or three for $20 — will be donated to the Veterans Transition Home in New Bedford, which helps homeless veterans assimilate back into civilian life and society.

Meanwhile, one of the girls in The Confetti Kids, Lizzie Bahena, has pushed the fund-raiser to another level.

Lizzie, a soon-to-be-seventh grade student at Barrington Middle School, has been making and selling hand-sewn tote bags and wristlets, and cross-body purses. She has already raised more than $400 through the sale of the bags.

Lizzie said she took up sewing earlier this year as part of a Business America project at the school (the project has since been delayed for a year). At first, she took lessons from a local seamstress, but when the pandemic hit Lizzie turned to the internet. The 12-year-old Barrington girl watched Youtube videos about sewing and started trying new and more complicated projects. Before long, she was excelling at creating bags and wallets.

"It's a newer interest," she said, of sewing. Lizzie also likes to draw and play soccer and she is currently in the junior black belt training program at Rocky Silva's American Karate. She also plays percussion instruments.

Lizzie was happy to use one of her interests to benefit The Confetti Kids' most recent projects. She has made dozens of bags and wristlets, and her mom, Samantha Bahena, has pitched in as her sales, marketing, distribution and quality control expert. Ms. Bahena writes online posts about the bags and shares updates regularly.

Lizzie's father, Joe Bahena, is also involved in the recent fund-raising effort. Mr. Bahena is the senior vice president of Joseph Abboud Manufacturing in New Bedford, Mass., which is the company The Confetti Kids worked with to produce the face coverings. The company is also making the face coverings for other organizations, and agreed to help with this project.

Ms. Bahena and Lizzie reached out to Barrington Public Schools for permission to use the Eagles logo on the masks, and school officials were happy to oblige.

Meanwhile, the proceeds from all the sale of these products — face coverings, bags and wristlets — will help veterans in need. The Veterans Transition House in New Bedford was founded in 1990 by a group of veterans and community leaders "who recognized the vital need for housing and supportive services for area homeless and at-risk veterans—especially those tackling substance abuse—on the Massachusetts South Coast."

The Confetti Kids began selling the masks late last month. The children will be selling the masks through local shops and at pop-up stands around town, wrote The Confetti Kids Founder Justine Chonoles-Currie in a recent online post.

More projects in the works

In addition to the current face covering and tote bag sale, The Confetti Kids are also planning additional community service projects. The group will also be holding a book drive, which is designed to benefit an underserved and disadvantaged school in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, NY. Also, The Confetti Kids will partner with the Boy Scouts in Troop 6 Barrington in the Veterans Day leaf-raking project. The children will rake leaves for elderly and disabled veterans in town.

Want to order a mask or bag?

Anyone interested in purchasing a tote bag, wristlet, face covering or cross-body purse can email Bahenask@gmail.com for details. The face coverings are priced at $7 each or three for $20. There is a $15 suggested donation for some of the other items.