"Duchess Of Salem" Delivers Holiday Help To Teens

SALEM, MA -- Best known as a local LBGT activist, Gigi Gill spent this holiday season spearheading a charity effort to help teens living at Plummer Youth Promise, a foster care facility for teen-aged boys in Salem. Gill got inspired in October, when she met some boys who lived at the funds while raising funds for the Salem Christmas tree from tourists on the pedestrian mall. The boys were riding bikes that Plummer Youth Promise received as a donation last Christmas, and Gill decided she wanted to lend a hand.

What started as a secret Santa request on her Facebook page for 18 blankets, 18 pillows, and warm socks ballooned into an outpouring of generosity from Salem residents that required multiple trips in Gill's car to deliver all of the donations. Salem's Clean Cut barbershop donated gift certificates for free haircuts and Chic-fil-a at the North Shore Mall donated gift cards when Gill reached out to the fast food chain.

That was followed by an offer from Daniel Gursha, the head chef at Ledger restaurant, to cook a three-course meal for the Plummer Youth Promise boys.

"It's all about what you can do for your community together. Please make a wish and let it come true for someone very special today in your life," Gill said.

Gill wasn't Plummer Youth Promise's only benefactor this holiday season. In a press release to thank the community for the generous support, the nonprofit name several donors by name, including:

• Caroline and Corey Beaulieu, who single-handedly purchased wish list items for each young adult in Plummer Youth Promise's program that works with young women and men between the ages of 18-21 in local community apartments. Because they are legal adults, they are often overlooked over the holiday season, in spite of the fact that they are the ones who need the most support. Caroline Beaulieu also collected gift cards and other necessities from friends, and cooked and delivered dinners to Plummer House with her own holiday guests.
• Salem native Sean Stellato, an agent for NFL players, who delivered football memorabilia, including signed footballs.

"On behalf of all Plummer youth and staff this holiday season, we whole-heartedly agree with the words said by one of our teens after opening his gifts; we all feel very 'blessed' this holiday season," Plummer Youth Promise's Leanne Schild said.