It began with one family's loss — and a promise.
Project Noelle is named for a daughter who was loved, lost, and remembered every single day. Her mother began this work so other children would not face the same morning alone.
How Project Noelle began
In July of 2017, Keli Clark lost her daughter, Noelle, to a fentanyl overdose. Noelle was thirty-five — adventurous, funny, outspoken, and one of her mother's best friends.
Noelle left behind three young sons. Keli took two of them into her home and began the hardest work of her life: helping grieving children make sense of something grown adults cannot.
She went looking for help and found very little. There were programs for people in addiction. There was almost nothing for the children left in its wake — the ones who lost a parent and, just like that, lost the life they knew.
The children were being forgotten in the whole mess. They were the innocent victims of this epidemic.
So in December of 2017, she started Project Noelle, named for her daughter. What began as one grandmother making sure a few children had a Christmas has grown into a team of volunteers serving families across 43 counties in three states. The mission has never changed: show these children, in every way we can, that they are loved.
"Our family is bigger now than it was. Some of that family I will never get to hold again. But the children who are still here — they will know they were loved."
The children were being forgotten in the whole mess. They were the innocent victims of this epidemic.
Children do not choose the homes they are born into
They should never carry the weight of a grown-up's illness. A child who has lost a parent still deserves a normal childhood — a birthday, a full backpack, an Easter basket, a reason to smile.
The grandparents and relatives who step in to raise these children deserve support, not judgment.
And we believe that with enough care shown early, the cycle of trauma that feeds addiction can be broken — one child at a time.
A small team that shows up
Project Noelle is run by a founder, a volunteer board, and a prevention specialist who carries the message into schools.
Keli Clark
Nate Kehlmeier
Misty Underwood
Sam Siverling
Julie Ruetz
Lori Fiandra
Colleen Barry
Where your trust is well placed
Project Noelle is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Every gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
EIN 82-3901480 · Founded 2017 · Sandusky, Ohio
Our most recent IRS filing reports around $114,000 in annual support — nearly all of it carried straight to children and families through clothing, holidays, support groups, and prevention work.
Michael Kevin Maschari
October 8, 1989 · September 1, 2021
Brother. Son. Remembered.
Noelle's younger brother. Lost to the same fight, four years later. Michael's story lives here, in his own words and ours.
Read moreNoelle's name now belongs to more than 10,000 children
Help us keep the promise — with a gift, with your time, or simply by saying hello.
Your gift becomes something a child can hold.
A coat in winter. A full backpack on the first day of school. A wrapped gift on Christmas morning. Every dollar given here turns into help a child can see and feel.
Project Noelle is a small organization doing large-hearted work. Nearly every dollar given turns directly into help for a child — not overhead, but diapers, clothing, support, and holidays.
Real money, real children
What we need most
New clothing, diapers, toys, and sporting equipment go a long way for the children we serve. Run a drive at your office, your school, or your church — we will tell you exactly what is needed most right now.
- New clothing & coats — children's sizes
- Diapers, wipes, and baby essentials
- Toys and gifts (especially for Christmas drives)
- Sporting equipment & activity gear
Partner with Project Noelle
Businesses, churches, civic groups, and local foundations have helped Project Noelle grow from one county into three states.
A partnership puts your name behind children in your own community — and behind a cause your customers and members already care about. We will find a fit that works for your organization, and recognize your support in a way that feels right to you.
Become a Partnerof the Cause
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Thank you to those who stand with us
Your gift is tax-deductible
Project Noelle is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 82-3901480. Every gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and you will receive a receipt for your records.