LYNN — Lynn resident Tommi Hill has been working with the Lynn Shelter Association to help transition homeless families into their new housing, an effort that caught the attention of one of her idols, Oprah Winfrey.
Through her nonprofit, Love4lynn, which she started with her sister, Toni Hill this past August, Tommi has been supporting the Lynn Shelter by providing donations that she collects from around the community, which shelter staff then distributes to their homeless clients.
“I feel like I’m just a very giving, caring person,” said Hill, 21. “I just wanted to do something that was going to give back to the city and make the city better as a whole and I decided to come up with Love4lynn.”
Her past donations have included winter essentials, body care items, feminine products, blankets and food, but she was able to kick her efforts up a notch after hearing back from a celebrity she grew up idolizing.
Last winter, Hill said she wrote to two prominent talk show hosts, Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres, detailing some of the work that she has been doing in the Lynn community.
She never heard back from DeGeneres, but after a few months she received an Instagram message from Winfrey’s assistant, who asked her for more information on her philanthropic efforts and for her shipping information.
After not hearing from Winfrey’s assistant again for a while, Hill received another message from the woman, who told her that a package was being shipped to her overnight. At the time, Hill said she did not think much of it, until she actually received the package, which listed Winfrey’s production company as its return address.
“I said, ‘oh my God, Oprah,” said Hill, who opened the package to find a letter from Winfrey and an Amazon gift card for $1,000.
Hill said she used the gift card to purchase household items, such as pots and pans, towels, and body care items, which she distributed to four families who were transitioning from the shelter to their new apartment housing.
“We were able to get them things that made it feel more homey,” said Hill, who met the four families when she was dropping off the supplies at their new apartments.
Hill was able to support the families through the Lynn Shelter Association’s Welcome Home Program, which connects new tenants with volunteers who provide them with personalized housewarming gifts, along with useful household supplies and decor.
Individuals who qualify for the Welcome Home Program are placed in Single Room Occupancy units, a single room with use of a shared bathroom, kitchen and living room, according to the Lynn Shelter Association website.
“Welcome Home is important because new tenants often lack the resources to purchase general household items,” reads the website’s description of the program. “Further, these rooms can be sparse, and homeless individuals frequently lack the space or security to collect many personal items, which could be used to decorate their new room.”
Hill said she was able to help those families because of Winfrey’s gift card, which she did not expect to be such a high amount.
“I couldn’t even believe it,” said Hill. “I cried and then I called my sister. She was still at school at this point. We were just crying on the phone together. We couldn’t even believe it. My family used to watch (Oprah’s) show way back (when it was on). I just love Oprah.”
Part of her excitement was the letter from Winfrey, which reads “Dear Tommi, I am moved by all you are doing to support your community in Lynn, Massachusetts.
“There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling,” Winfrey wrote. “Thank you for inspiring others through your service.”
While Hill, a full-time student at Salem State University, plans to pursue a career in her areas of study — she is studying criminal justice and business — she intends to keep doing her nonprofit work with Love4Lynn for her whole life, she said.
So far, she has only been working with the Lynn Shelter Association, but plans to reach out to other local organizations as well to see if they want to work with her in the future.
“I wanted to figure out ways I can give back to this community of Lynn,” said Hill. “It’s been so great to me. This community has just been amazing. If it wasn’t for the community, we wouldn’t be able to do this.”
To donate, email Hill at [email protected].
