The NEST Project

06/25/2026

🎉💙 THE NEST PROJECT IS 1 YEAR OLD TODAY! 💙🎉

One year ago today, a dream became reality.

What started as a mission to Nurture, Equip, Support, and Thrive alongside families raising children with disabilities has grown into something truly incredible.

In just one year, we have:
✨ Built meaningful relationships with numerous organizations, agencies, and community partners throughout Lawrence County.
✨ Helped a total of 31 families with resources, support, adaptive needs, and encouragement.
✨ Continued to grow a community that reminds families they are never alone.

Every donation, every volunteer, every shared post, and every family who trusted us has helped shape The NEST Project into what it is today. We are endlessly grateful for the support we have received and excited for everything still to come.

This first year has been filled with challenges, victories, learning experiences, and countless moments that reinforced why this mission matters so deeply.

Thank you to everyone who has stood beside us on this journey. Because of you, we're not just building a nonprofit—we're building a community.

Here's to Year Two and all the lives we'll continue to touch together. 🩵🕊️

Happy 1st Birthday to us!

06/19/2026

Thank you to the Epilepsy Foundation Eastern PA - EFEPA for being incredible supporters! We are grateful for the advocacy you all give on the daily! Theyre working hard on making sure schools have the proper education on epilepsy, we love to see it!!

If you want to help, check our their page and see how YOU can help be a part of the change!

Our friends at The Nest Project are dedicated to nurturing and equipping children in Pennsylvania with disabilities by providing essential items, inclusive resources, and support for families, especially during times of crisis. Check out their website at https://www.nestcares.org/ and support their mission!

06/11/2026

🚨 Community Feedback Needed 🚨

We've had a few families reach out to The NEST Project requesting assistance with fencing and other home safety modifications for children who are at risk of wandering or eloping.

It's something we've been discussing, but before we begin looking into grants and funding opportunities to support a program like this, we'd like to know if there is enough interest and need within our community.

Would your family benefit from assistance with fencing or other home safety modifications?

Would you be willing to complete a short survey to help us gather data? If so, please fill out this survey!

https://form.jotform.com/261614608998067

🔄 Please share with other families who may be interested
Your feedback will help us determine whether this is a program worth pursuing and could strengthen future grant applications!

Please click the link to complete this form.

06/10/2026

Wonderful opportunity if you're in the Erie area (unsure of exact location and time as of yet).

If you have leftover equipment that you need to part with or need some equipment yourself, this will be great!

🍂 COMING THIS FALL 🍂

The Disability Resource Fair of NWPA is excited to announce the upcoming NWPA Adaptive Equipment Exchange!

This new community event will help connect families with adaptive, disability, and special needs equipment through donations and sharing of items that are no longer needed.

We are beginning to accept donations of clean, working adaptive equipment, mobility devices, therapy and sensory items, communication devices, and other special needs equipment.

Donations may be coordinated through Kieran Dhillon, Brianne McClellan, or Rebecca Laska.

Questions or donations:
📧 [email protected]

More details, including location, dates, and event information, will be announced soon.

Together, we can help make adaptive equipment more accessible for families across Northwest Pennsylvania. 💜🩵🩷.

06/04/2026

Awesome opportunity!! The number one death in autistic children is drowning. Please take this opportunity to not only educate yourself, but your child!

🌊 Every child deserves to feel safe and confident around water. 💙

The Lawrence County YMCA is excited to offer our FREE Autism Safety Around Water Program this summer!

This 8-week program is designed for youth with autism or sensory/support needs who would benefit from beginner swim instruction, water safety education, and a supportive pool environment.

🏊 Wednesdays, June 10 – July 29
🕕 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
💲 FREE
🩱 Swimsuits and towels available if needed

Participants will learn essential water safety skills, build confidence in and around the water, and receive instruction from our caring YMCA aquatics team in a structured, supportive setting.

Space is limited, so we encourage interested families to sign up soon!

For more information, contact Lisa Zarilla at [email protected] or call 724-658-4766.

Learn more at lawcoymca.org

06/02/2026

🐾 FREE DAY AT LIVING TREASURES WILD ANIMAL PARK! 🦘

Lawrence County MHDS is offering a FREE day at Living Treasures Wild Animal Park for:

✅ Early Intervention (EI) families
✅ Families of individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism in Lawrence County

📅 June 23, 2026

🕙 Arrive at 10:00 AM and enjoy the park at your leisure!
🎟️ Admission and animal feed are FREE for everyone attending!

⚠️ RSVP is required by June 22, 2026
📧 RSVP to: Kelsea at [email protected]

This is an incredible opportunity for families to enjoy a fun, inclusive day together while experiencing all the amazing animals Living Treasures has to offer. Don't miss out!

💙 Please share with any Lawrence County families who may qualify!

06/02/2026

✨️ Company Spoitlight ✨️

Has anyone ever heard of The Butterfly Pig?? They are pretty extraordinary and really do the best things, especially if you have a kiddo that has a fear of hospitals/doctors.

A company dedicated to empowering children with medical needs through educational and interactive toys. Their products help children better understand medical equipment, procedures, and diagnoses through play, making healthcare experiences less intimidating while building confidence and understanding.

Founded by pediatric oncology nurse and mom Mary Jenner, The Butterfly Pig is on a mission to help children understand medical experiences through play. Their research-backed, inclusive toys are designed to reduce medical anxiety, encourage curiosity, and empower children facing medical challenges.

Organizations like The Butterfly Pig are helping children and families navigate medical journeys with education, compassion, and empowerment, and we love seeing the difference they're making in the special needs community. 💙

06/01/2026

💙 HELP US HELP XANDER GET THE ACCESSIBLE VAN HE NEEDS 💙

At The NEST Project, we know that accessibility isn't a luxury.
It's a necessity.

Meet Alexander ("Xander") French, a young man living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a progressive neuromuscular disease that causes muscle weakness and loss of mobility over time. As Xander's condition continues to progress, he relies heavily on his power wheelchair for independence and daily life.

Unfortunately, transporting a power wheelchair safely requires more than a standard vehicle.

Xander and his family have been accepted into the Jett Giving Accessible Vehicle Fund Program, which helps families obtain wheelchair-accessible vehicles. To qualify, the family must raise $37,500 toward the purchase of a safe, reliable accessible van. So far, they have raised $3,945, but they still have a long way to go.

🚐 An accessible van would allow Xander to:
✅ Safely attend medical appointments
✅ Participate in school and community activities
✅ Maintain independence and quality of life
✅ Travel without the physical and logistical barriers many families face every day

🍝 YOU CAN HELP!
Join the French Family for a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser benefiting Xander's Accessible Vehicle Fund.

📝 TO MAKE RESERVATIONS:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZzwEe3ETbX_K8_34edQvobmRucen8OOoHgI56mQNE8Zu8Yg/viewform

Every ticket purchased, donation made, and share of this post brings Xander one step closer to the accessible transportation he needs.

As parents and advocates in the disability community, we understand how life-changing adaptive equipment and accessibility can be for a family. Let's come together and show the French family that they are not alone in this journey.

💙 Please consider attending, donating, or simply sharing this post. Together, we can help Xander gain the freedom, safety, and independence he deserves.

💙

06/01/2026

💙 In Memory of John “Mr. West” 💙

For so many in the autism community, Mr. West was more than a social media personality, he was a powerful advocate, a source of joy, and a reminder that autistic individuals deserve to be seen, heard, accepted, and celebrated exactly as they are.

Through his videos, kindness, and genuine spirit, he helped bring awareness and acceptance to autistic adults, a population that is often overlooked in conversations about autism. He showed the world that being different is not something to hide, but something to embrace.

Mr. West was a light that was so desperately needed in this community. His gentle soul, infectious smile, and unwavering authenticity touched countless lives and inspired many families, self-advocates, and caregivers.

Our thoughts are with his loved ones, friends, and the many people whose lives were impacted by his advocacy and presence.

Thank you, Mr. West, for helping make the world a more accepting place. Your legacy will continue to shine through the lives you touched. 💙🧩

05/21/2026

We recently helped provide a sensory wiggle chair for a child who LOVES spinning for stimulation. His mom had been searching for one for so long, but with the reality of raising 4 children and everyday bills, it just wasn’t possible.

That’s the reality for so many special needs families.
Between therapies, appointments, gas, groceries, adaptive equipment, and daily living costs, sensory supports often end up on the back burner, even when they could make such a big difference for a child.

Every donation, every share, and every bit of support helps us continue reaching local families and providing resources that truly matter. ❤️

✨️ TO DONATE: https://givebutter.com/NESTproject