After years of combating homelessness, final yr Sal’s Pizza Supervisor Katarian “KT” Andrews was cornered into sleeping out of the shop.
At present, he’s again on his ft because the multi-unit supervisor on the pizza staple and serving to increase cash for others in comparable crises by the homelessness help nonprofit St. Francis Home.
“I’ve been working in the pizza industry for approximately 15 years, and I’ve been a general manager probably for the last seven,” stated Andrews. “I had the qualifications to get into this role. St. Francis was a place where I went because I didn’t have nowhere to go due to familial issues. It goes a lot deeper than that.”
Sal Lupoli, founding father of Sal’s Pizza, known as Andrews a “great role model for our stores and a great role model for me,” citing all of the supervisor has overcome in his life.
“I think KT is an inspiration to people who are looking in the mirror and asking themselves, ‘What am I going to do now?’” stated Lupoli. “And, ‘Maybe I’m at the end.’ KT is an inspiration that you can always turn things around.”
At age 13, Andrews was first pressured out onto the road. For some time, he stated, he was capable of keep afloat working at Ben’s Quick Meals as an assistant supervisor. Finally, although, by a household disaster, Andrews stated, he misplaced that job too.
“I was jobless, without any type of income,” stated Andrews. “When I was at St. Francis, I used to go to the fifth floor because they had a punching bag up there. So I would go up there and utilize the heavy bag because I’m into boxing.”
That was the place one of many staff discovered him in the future, Andrews stated, and launched him to the Shifting Forward Program designed to assist individuals with a stipend and coaching to get again into the workforce. Quickly sufficient, he was working at American Flatbread in Brighton and headed to graduating this system.
“While the other students were working on their resume, I was already ready to start applying for another management position,” stated Andrews. “So I saw the job description for Sal’s Pizza on Indeed, and I applied.”
Andrews secured residing quarters by one other St. Francis program, Speedy Rehousing, however one other security menace encroached on his new-found shelter.
“That’s what caused me to sleep out the store,” stated Andrews. “My safety again. I started sleeping out of the store, and I want to say I did that for three weeks.”
One evening, one other worker got here to repair one thing within the retailer, Andrews stated, and he ended up opening as much as the person. The co-worker advised him about residences that Lupoli owned with reductions for workers.
Andrews utilized for the lofts, however he didn’t have move-in prices saved, he stated. He requested for an advance on his paychecks, Andrews stated, and was declined.
However the supervisor went to Lupoli and advised him Andrew’s scenario.
“When I hear things like that, and it’s about my employees — we have about 1,000 employees — I got filled with like rage, almost,” Lupoli stated. “And that rage was because one of our family members was sleeping in in the store. Because they had no place to live.”
Lupoli cited his mother and father’ affect, saying “they taught me try to impact people’s lives as best you can, and don’t forget where you came from.” The restaurateur helped cowl the move-in prices and obtained Andrews into an residence.
Now, Andrews remains to be working on the Tremont Avenue location, sending his lease and attempting to “pay it forward.”
He’s employed three individuals from the St. Francis program, one in all whom nonetheless works within the retailer, and shared his story at a gala for the Shifting Forward program in latest months. In late February, he got here into the shop to discover a fundraiser in his honor.
“It was a little surprise to me, but I’m happy that they’re raising money in my honor for other people who may be experiencing homelessness and things of that nature,” stated Andrews. “I’m ecstatic about it.”
Lupoli stated he goals to boost $20,000 for St. Francis Home by clients and firms’ donations and can match donations given.
Andrews stated he desires to depart individuals with the message that you may work your means out of a nasty scenario.
“I’ve always been an astute individual,” stated Andrews. “Yes, St. Francis did help me. Yes, Sal did give me an opportunity, but I’ve worked my way to be where I’m at.”
Nancy Lane/Boston Herald
Sal’s Pizza supervisor Katarian “KT” Andrews, who went from homeless to supervisor, makes a pizza on the Tremont St location. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Nancy Lane/Boston Herald
Sal’s Pizza proprietor Sal Lupoli tosses dough on the Tremont St location.(Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
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