“The Closet That Started It All”: Catie’s Closet Celebrates Reopening and Rededication of Its Founding Location at Lowell High School

LOWELL, MA — Catie’s Closet welcomed community leaders, educators, elected officials, supporters, and family members on May 21 for the reopening and rededication of the original Catie’s Closet at Lowell High School—the very place where the organization’s mission began sixteen years ago.

The newly renovated 788-square-foot space, now one of the largest closets in the Catie’s Closet network, replaces the original room that opened in 2010. The expanded closet continues a legacy that began with a simple yet powerful belief: every child deserves access to clothing and basic necessities, which, in turn, builds confidence and restores dignity.

The ceremony, titled “The Closet That Started It All,” honored both the history of the organization and the thousands of students whose lives have been impacted since the first green door opened at Lowell High School.

Founded in memory of Lowell High School graduate Catie Bisson, Catie’s Closet was created by her mother and family members following Catie’s passing in 2010. Inspired by Catie’s compassion for others and by stories of local students experiencing homelessness and hardship, the family transformed their grief into action by opening the first in-school closet at Lowell High School.

“Catie absolutely loved being a student here. Even when she was battling her own health struggles, her first question was always about how soon she could come back to school,” said Anne-Marie Sousa, President and Founder of Catie’s Closet and Catie’s mom. “She had a beautiful, quiet empathy and felt deeply that no student should feel left out or fall behind because they lacked everyday essentials. She would be so proud to see this beautiful new space right here in the school that nurtured her love of learning, and in particular, writing. We are thrilled to provide such a necessary resource to the students at Lowell High and the amazing staff who support them.”

“What began as a tribute to one remarkable young woman has become a movement serving more than 100,000 students across Massachusetts and New Hampshire,” said Mickey Cockrell, CEO and Co-Founder of Catie’s Closet and Catie’s aunt. “Standing back at Lowell High School, where it all began, was incredibly meaningful for our family and for everyone who has helped carry this mission forward over the past sixteen years.”

Today, Catie’s Closet serves students in 142 schools across Massachusetts and New Hampshire, including every school in Lowell Public Schools. Through free, fully stocked in-school closets and emergency response programs, the organization helps remove barriers to attendance by ensuring students have access to clothing, toiletries, shoes, and other everyday essentials.

The Lowell High School closet remains one of the organization’s most utilized locations.

“Students come to Lowell High School, and we get them registered. The very next thing we do is take them to Catie’s Closet,” said Superintendent Liam Skinner. “Students who don’t have to feel self-conscious are students who can focus on their learning and their future.”

During the ceremony, attendees reflected on the growth of a program that began in a single room and has since become a regionally recognized model for addressing student poverty through dignity-centered support.

While the space itself may be new, the mission remains unchanged: ensuring that every student can walk through the school doors feeling confident, prepared, and ready to learn.

For Catie’s family, the reopening represented more than the dedication of a new room. It was a homecoming—one that celebrated Lowell, honored Catie’s legacy, and reaffirmed a commitment to the students who inspired the mission from the very beginning.

For more information about Catie’s Closet, visit www.catiescloset.org.