Local Charity Startup partners with Mercy House - Batavia

FOX VALLEY AREA - Amy Lawler wants to bring people together from all walks of life to build communities of hope. She is doing this right here in her own neighborhood and is casting a wide enough net to capture the entire Fox Valley Region. Amy Lawler wants to save the world, starting at home, and here is how she is doing it.

Lawler started 3:11 Project, a soon to be 501(c)3 organization (approval pending) , as a small startup this past July, in her hometown of Montgomery, IL. The goal is simple: "Share with the One who has None." Before the Fall start to this school year, Lawler's 3:11 Project provided 28 children with full school supply lists during her August School Supply Drive. Supplies included: backpacks, athletic clothing, notebooks, binders, art supplies, pens and pencils, and calculators, among other items. All items were donated from neighbors near and far.

Lawler said of the School Supply Drive, "It was really a test-drive. I wanted to see what kind of support we were able to get before taking on a larger project. We were just overwhelmed by their generosity and kindness. People from all over sent us things like 30 notebooks, financial donations, full school lists, or whatever extra supplies they could find. It was quite beautiful."

We were just overwhelmed by their generosity and kindness. - Lawler, Founder and Board President of 3:11 Project

A Lifelong Partnership

With such meteoric success, 3:11 Project has set its sites on an even grander undertaking. Partnering with national organization Mercy Housing, 3:11 Project has committed to providing holiday gifts for nearly 200 families. Mercy Housing is a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsored project which provides affordable, stable and healthy housing for families in need, seniors, and people with special needs.

The Batavia Apartments Mercy Housing development (1259 East Wilson Street, Batavia, IL 60510) serves nearly 200 families through a service-enriched community, here in the Fox Valley Area.

Resident Service Coordinator at Mercy Housing Lakefront (Batavia Apartments), Veronica Horton, said that one of the main reasons she wanted to partner with Lawler's 3:11 Project was because she believed in what Lawler is doing. Horton said, "I really think this will be great for both 3:11 and Mercy Housing. And I am really looking forward to working with Amy and this partnership." Horton added that she foresaw this being a long-term relationship between the two organizations, seeing a perfect fit between the missions and visions of the groups.

I am really looking forward to working with Amy and this partnership." - Horton, Coordinator of Mercy Housing, Batavia

Pledge through 3:11's Secret Santa Project

3:11 Project received a donation of 200 Santa Bags from Blanks and Beyond , a Suffolk, VA embroidery and vinyl blanks wholesaler. Each bag will be filled with a number of items for families and then small, individual gifts for children. Lawler is currently using her network to receive gift or fund donations to fill the bags. Donors sponsor a family helping 3:11 Project fulfill its vision of "Share with the One who has None."

Those interested in donating, giving or volunteering with 3:11 Project can contact Amy Lawler at the311project@outlook.com, or through http://311project.strikingly.com. You can also follow 3:11 Project at Facebook and Twitter.

For more information concerning Mercy Housing - Batavia.