The NEST Project

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

05/19/2026

💙 Hi everyone! We know we’ve been a little quiet lately, but behind the scenes, things have been incredibly busy here at The NEST Project.

Over the past several weeks, we’ve received so many requests for assistance, and while it’s been nonstop, our hearts are full knowing we’ve been able to support so many amazing families. From sensory needs and adaptive essentials to everyday support during difficult times, every family we help reminds us exactly why this mission matters so much. 💙

At the same time, it’s heartbreaking to see just how many families of children with special needs are struggling to access the support and resources they deserve. Too many parents are left navigating impossible situations, long waits, financial stress, and systems that simply are not built to meet their child’s needs.
That’s why we’re here.

The NEST Project was created to help bridge those gaps when families feel overlooked, unheard, or unsupported. We are proud to stand beside these families and provide help, hope, and compassion when the system falls short.

Thank you to every single person who supports, shares, donates, volunteers, and believes in our mission. Because of YOU, families are being helped every single day. 💙

If you or someone you know who could utilize our services, check out our website and fill out the form!

https://www.nestcares.org/

05/05/2026

We have officially received our $3,000 grant! 🎉

This funding is going to make a huge impact, allowing us to support even more families and provide access to essential tools that are often not covered by insurance. From sensory supports to adaptive resources, this means real help is reaching those who need it most. 💙

A heartfelt thank you to the Almira Foundation for believing in our mission and making this possible. We are truly grateful for your support and partnership in helping families thrive!

05/02/2026

Hi everyone!!

Anyone get those unpacking blues after coming back from vacation? Because same 🙃🙃

We took the kids to Disney for their first time and I have SO MANY tips that helped our son who has special needs to help make the trip as seamless as possible that I will be sharing with you all in a video!

I am back home and unpacking, I will be sifting through emails, we needed a good unplugged vacation and thats what we did!

I will respond to all emails whenever I get a chance, I will try to do that tomorrow!

Missed you ALL! 💓💓

04/14/2026

We love working with our friends 🌎🫶🏽
together, change can happen

It truly takes a village—and this Earth Day, we felt that in every sense of the word.

We want to take a moment to recognize and thank the incredible organizations and individuals who have poured their time, energy, resources, and heart into making our Community Earth Day Celebration + Yard Sale possible. This event was built through collaboration, generosity, and a shared belief in community—and we are so deeply grateful.

✨ A special thank you to:

🌿 Soulful Yellow Butterfly — for your enthusiasm, excitement, promotion, generous donations, and the gentle heart and beautiful spirit you guys bring into everything you do.

🌈The New Castle Prism Initiative — for sharing your resources so openly, being generous with your time, helping connect volunteers, and showing up as true community partners and friends.

⏳ Echoes of Time LLC — for being a sounding board, donating to our cause, and for your support with layout and logistics behind the scenes.

♻️ Lawrence-Mercer Counties Recycling/Solid Waste Department — for donating compost bins, lending your expertise, and coordinating with vendors.

🎶 New Castle Music Festival — for your time, incredible musical talent, equipment, and for providing our MC to help the day flow seamlessly.

🏛️ City of New Castle and New Castle Parks and Recreation — for the use of Cascade Park, your willingness to collaborate, your promotion and guidance, and your trust in us to help share New Castle's 10-year Comprehensive Plan with our community.

🛠️ Lowe's Home Improvement in Union Township — for providing volunteers and creating engaging activities for kids and families.

🕊️ The NEST Project — for serving as our nonprofit sponsor and for being a steady voice of reason throughout this process.

Each of you has played a unique and meaningful role in bringing this vision to life.

Because of you, this isn’t just an event—it’s a reflection of what’s possible when a community comes together with intention.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. 💚

Each of our sponsors will be on-site with a table, sharing what they do, connecting with you, and offering something unique to this day. We encourage you to take the time to visit them, learn from them, and support the work they’re doing—not just today, but beyond.