The Gloucester Youth Leadership Council recently went on spending spree to make the holidays bright for some of their peers.
The group’s members bought $1,500 worth of toys and other items specifically for middle and high schoolers from Marshalls at Gloucester Crossing.
“They bought toys and clothes that they said kids wouldn’t be bullied for wearing,” David Tucker, the group’s adult facilitator, said. “And Marshalls had everything.”
Tucker said donating the toys and clothes was the teens’ idea and that they selected the item for families in need. The teens pulled some wish lists to fulfill from the Y’s Giving Tree, as most people choose to buy for young children, he said.
“The money came from one of our grants to do fun stuff like go to Sky Zone, but the youth council wanted to use some of the money from there on the gifts,” Tucker said.
After shopping, the teens took half the gifts to Pathways for Children to be distributed, and the other half back to YMCA to fill the Giving Tree wish lists.
Tucker said the Cape Ann Transit Authority donated a small bus and the driver’s time to take the teens shopping.
The items the council members bought filled the bus, he said.
Staff Writer Andrea Holbrook may be contacted at aholbrook@gloucestertimes.com.