“What an amazing spirit! Happy to support,” said one local.
“What a remarkable person your son is,” noted another.
These are just two of more than 30 heartfelt comments and nearly 200 reactions left on a social media post by Nate Foster, who recently shared a community project spearheaded by his six-year-old son, Keaton.
The young Cochranite has been collecting pop can tabs to help fund a wheelchair for a child in need. This is a project he’s been dedicated to for nearly two years.
It all started at his grandmother’s house, when Keaton noticed a bowl full of aluminum tabs on the table.
“He asked what it was for,” recalled his dad. “His grandma explained that they were saving them to donate for a wheelchair. He kind of ran with the idea from there.”
Keaton’s grandmother had been helping her neighbour with a similar campaign to support Ronald McDonald House. Inspired by the cause and personally connected to it, as both his cousin and another grandmother rely on wheelchairs, Keaton decided to start his own collection.
“At that time, he was pretty young, so that conversation coming from a four-year-old was pretty special,” said Foster. “It’s very heartwarming, to say the least. Not many kids come up with these kinds of ideas on their own.”
When The Eagle met with the Foster family at their home, it was easy to see where Keaton takes after his action-oriented nature. Keaton’s mom, Brook Foster, was working on a handmade nightstand as a gift for his upcoming birthday, and Nate spoke just after finishing a workout.
Now 18 months into the project, Keaton’s commitment hasn’t wavered.
“I think it’s super cute,” said Brook. “He’s always been so kind. During Christmas, he always wants to donate his old toys to charity so other children can have something for the holidays.”
At first, the campaign was supported only by close family and friends. But that changed this summer.
“It really took off after we shared it on social media,” Nate said. “Since then, it’s started to add up in a hurry.”
About three weeks ago, the family decided to invite the wider community to participate. Using their woodworking skills, they built a public drop-off box for tab donations.
“People can swing by and drop tabs off anytime they want,” said Foster. “Feel free to take a thank-you note from the box with you.”
Keaton himself has been busy writing those notes for donors, another reflection of his thoughtfulness. Since the box went up at Belgian Crescent on Thursday, July 24, the tab collection has doubled.
“Lots of people have reached out, wanting to donate tabs they’ve been collecting,” Foster noted. “I think this used to be a common fundraiser for a lot of different charities.”
The Fosters estimate they’ll need approximately 1.8 million tabs, about 1,500 pounds’ worth to fund a basic wheelchair.
And Keaton is on top of it.
“He checks every day,” said his dad. “At least twice a day: once in the morning, once in the evening.”
“We’re not allowed to touch it,” Brook jokingly added. “It’s his mailbox, and he has to open it himself. He gets mad at us if we take anything out.”
With growing community support, Keaton is proving that, no matter how big or small the goal, a child’s determination is infectious enough to mobilize a community.
