By Valerie Franchi, Contributing Writer
Photo/Valerie Franchi
Region – When Shrewsbury resident Christine Foley took over as the physical education teacher at South High School in Worcester eight years ago, she could never have predicted the direction her career would take her. What started out as a part-time volunteer effort has become a full-time commitment to her students and the community.
Foley is the coordinator of Andy’s Attic, a nonprofit organization that collects used and new clothing to distribute to students in need throughout Worcester County. The organization was created by the parents of Andrew Reese, a 16-year-old Shrewsbury High School student who was killed in a tragic car accident.
“It started out in Andy’s bedroom at their home in Shrewsbury,” said Foley, who lived nearby. “I didn’t know them very well, but I got involved in volunteering right away.”
When the Reeses moved to Florida, Andy’s mother Lisa asked Foley to take over the operation.
“I couldn’t say no,” she said.
Fortunately, there was a perfect spot to relocate Andy’s Attic in the lower level of South High School, in a large storage room. It already had an array of tall metal shelving which was perfect for sorting and organizing the clothing by type and size.
“Everything was here,” Foley recalled. “It seemed like it was meant to be.”
Foley and volunteers spent a summer clearing out the storage room, which held paper, supplies and equipment from home economics classes.
Foley said she first intended to distribute the clothing only to South High School students, but she soon learned there was a tremendous need throughout Worcester County.
“When it started, we ended up bringing 190 bags of clothes in one year just to South High,” she noted.
Now in its fourth year, Andy’s Attic has expanded to provide clothing to all Worcester Public Schools and beyond, Foley said. In the 2015-2016 school year, Andy’s Attic filled over 1,000 bags of clothing for students and families throughout Worcester County. They also distribute to local organizations such as Centro Las Americas.
As if coordinating Andy’s Attic and being a gym teacher was not enough, Foley now teaches classes in nonprofit management, helping South High students learn how to run the organization.
Students sort and put donations on shelves, fill orders, write thank you cards, track orders that have been sent out, write letters to organizations for donations, and make phone calls to organizations to let them know their orders are ready for pick up.
Students who are not in the class may also volunteer during free periods, after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and once a month on Saturday.
“It’s grown to be so much more than helping the community,” Foley said. “I love watching the kids work. When the kids have ideas, I always say ‘Go for it.’”
As part of the nonprofit management class, guest speakers from other nonprofits are invited to speak to the students each month.
“The theme of many of the speakers is that you never know where your journey will take you and how to discover your passions,” Foley said. “It can come from a tragedy or a need to make a change.”
“I have a physical education background,” she added, “but my journey has changed. I didn’t expect this.”
Tracy Heller, a volunteer at Andy’s Attic, believes Foley is a large part of why the organization has become so successful, both as a charity and a teaching tool.
“[I] have been so impressed by what Christine has done for this program,” she said. “Christine is one of those unsung heroes in our world. She is beautiful inside and out.”
South High School will soon be starting a food pantry to team up with Andy’s Attic. And there will be more room for expansion in several years, when a new school is built, Foley said. There are plans to put Andy’s Attic and the food pantry side by side with driveway access for deliveries.
In addition, according to Foley, Worcester State University has agreed to offer the Nonprofit Management 3 course (Foley teaches 1 and 2), for which students can receive college credits.
Andy’s Attic is always in need of donations, particularly new socks and underwear. They accept gently used clothing for infants to teens that may be dropped off at South High School, 170 Apricot St., Worcester.
Foley noted that Andy’s Attic has become a fitting tribute to Andy Reese, who was known for his compassion for those in need.
“I feel like I know him,” she said. “Andy’s Attic is warm and loving to me. It’s amazing on so many levels.”
For hours and information, visit andysattic.org or on Facebook.
