By Nance Ebert
Contributing Writer
HOLDEN – After a 40-year career in law enforcement, Jim Hurley retired as the chief of police in the town of Leicester. Soon after, he started a non-profit called 4Others Inc.
Giving back
“I knew I wanted to do something to give back and help make an impact,” said Hurley. “After retiring on December 31, 2019, I met with my attorney to set up a non-profit. My wife, Patricia, is a cofounder of this organization and she named it,” he explained. “Originally, we were going to do furniture and clothing but Mr. Fletcher, from the Fletcher Foundation in Worcester, reached out and steered us in a different direction as that market is saturated. That was great advice.”
The mission of 4Others Inc., a 501(c) 3 organization, is that it collects personal hygiene products like deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, brushes, and soap for those in need in the Worcester area. That became their primary lane of operation. Since the foundation started, things like dental floss, bandages, new underwear, socks and even a few basic articles of winter clothing have been incorporated.
Photo/Submitted
“My family has always been involved in giving back to the community,” said Hurley. “Father Tim Brewer of St. Mary’s in Holden shared two distinct messages during a church sermon. The first was that each and every day we encounter individuals that we know nothing about and the second was to do as much as we can for as many as we can as often as we can.”
Once the paperwork and non-profit status was complete, the Covid pandemic hit in 2020. They were still determined to get 4Others Inc. up and running, praying that they would make it while businesses struggled.
“Right before everything closed down, I reached out to my alma mater, St. John’s in Shrewsbury and embraced their notion that once you’re a pioneer, you’re always a pioneer,” Hurley noted. “After explaining to them what I was doing, they ran the most amazing product drive for me. This is truly what got me out of the gate and running.”
Many volunteer and donate
Hurley and his wife are the board of directors but there are so many people who volunteer their time and donate products. There are six volunteers who are the core of the non-profit’s group. Hurley admits they are the most phenomenal people you would ever want to meet and the heart and soul of 4Others Inc. They help to run everything smoothly and simply do it all from deliveries to pick up and more. They, too, give one hundred percent all while volunteering, he said.
There are corporate partners, organizations and dozens of agencies that work with 4Others Inc. to make it the success that it is today. Big Y, Bombas, Veteran’s Inc., Hope and Comfort Hygiene Hub in Needham and so many others collaboratively help to make this non-profit such a huge success. Last year they made over 900 deliveries and moved almost half a million dollars’ worth of product.
There are young adults and youth groups from St. Mary’s Shrewsbury, St. John’s High School and St. Mary’s in Holden that help to assemble hygiene kits each month. There are also developmentally disabled adults who assemble a wide variety of kits/items that get distributed.
Beyond rewarding
“What we do is beyond rewarding,” said Hurley. “I get such a high at how people who are struggling are so happy to get hygiene products. We help give them a sense of pride which can be life changing,” he explained. “In the spring and fall of 2025 we distributed more than 5,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the Worcester Community Refrigerators. The sandwiches were made by St. Mary’s churches in the towns of Shrewsbury, Holden and Uxbridge.”
“In April 2025 I got a call from Greater Good Charities, and they wanted to do ‘Operation Stand Down’ in Worcester.,” said Hurley. “Veteran’s Inc. on Pearl Street participates in this program and has done so for the past twenty years at this location. They bring in the organizations like lawyers, bankers, health and medical professionals, barbers, job placement and more to assist the veterans,” he noted. “I had always wanted to participate, and we got the opportunity in June 2025. I wasn’t sure if we had enough inventory and we were told not to worry about it and they sent us ten pallets of product, which was phenomenal,” said Hurley.
Hurley said everyone that works with 4Others Inc. has been beyond generous with their donations. After applying to the donation program at Bombas and waiting for almost three years to be accepted, they received 2500 pairs of socks. Last year, they received 5,000 pairs, which was amazing but still not enough Hurley explain.. This year, they received 7500 pairs.
“This has been an amazing journey for me, and I am incredibly grateful how the people who supply us with donated items that actually change the lives of those who receive them,” said Hurley.
For more information you can go to their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064936352408 or you can email them directly at [email protected].
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