Attleboro High School Football

ATTLEBORO — The Attleboro High School football team is known for playing with a big heart on the field, but Tuesday it showed it has heart outside the lines too.

The team handed off stacks of school supplies to state Rep. Betty Poirier, who in turn gave them to foster children through a state agency.  The supplies included notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, and backpacks.

Poirier, R-North Attleboro, said the team’s effort was led by a freshman, William Runey, son of Principal Bill Runey.

The younger Runey and his friends collected donations at freshman orientation and other events as part of a project of giving back to the community.

Coach Mike Strachan said he has high expectations for his players both on and off the field and he was happy to see them get involved in helping families.

Senior Tri-captain Dan Perry said the effort to help families who can’t afford new supplies brought the team together.

William Runey said he hopes to make the collection drive an annual event and his father said next year they will start advertising it early in the summer.

Poirier said foster children often have to do without new school supplies and receiving the donations will make them feel better about going back to school.

When the football team started the collection, it was unsure how it was going to distribute the donations.

Poirier said Bill Runey saw a news article about her collection drive for foster children and called her about teaming up.