Sandusky-based Project Noelle, a nonprofit, spans multiple counties across two states under the motto, “It’s up to us to be the change.”
After losing two of her grown children to overdose deaths, Keli Clark, who founded the Project Noelle, wanted to put her pain to use helping others affected by the epidemic as well as raising awareness about the opioid crisis.
Project Noelle spans 28 counties in Ohio and another seven counties in Florida.
The organization helps provide support services as well as Easter baskets, clothing, awareness and more to those affected by the opioid epidemic.
“I started Project Noelle in December of 2017 in memory of my daughter, Noelle Maschari,” Clark said. “When Noelle passed away, I was going through the worst pain of my life, pain I could never have imagined.
“Noelle was beautiful, caring, adventurous, loving, independent, my daughter and one of my best friends. When Noelle died, I felt like I needed to be doing something.
“I have gotten a lot of healing through Project Noelle. It helps me to help these innocent kids and families going through the heartbreaking path of loving someone struggling from addiction.”
Maschari died in Cleveland on July 30, 2017, after receiving carfentanil.
Sadly, she was scheduled to enter a rehabilitation facility 11 hours after she died, her mother said.
Clark said she asked the medical examiner who conducted the autopsy on her daughter what Maschari experienced after she took the carfentanil.
The doctor told Clark the carfentanil was meant to sedate a 2,000 animal and that her daughter didn’t suffer in her last moments.
Maschari left behind three sons and Clark now is raising her daughter’s twin boys.
“While experiencing this grief, I also had these two little boys looking at me sad and confused,” she said. “They were 4 years old at the time and didn’t understand what had happened; they understood she was in Heaven, but did not understand that this was a permanent thing.
“I started reaching out to places looking for some guidance on how to explain to these little boys what happened, and how to help them in their own grieving.”
Origin of Project Noelle
In her searches for help, Clark said she could not find help anywhere, but discovered that many children are going through similar circumstances.
Finding no one to help and many in need, Clark said she had to initiate action and founded Project Noelle.
“I decided then to start Project Noelle with the mission of helping these children,” she said.
On Dec. 24, 2021, Clark’s grandsons also lost their father to an overdose, she said.
“It is such a sad thing to see all these kids who are losing one or both parents to this horrible disease,” Clark said.
The opioid epidemic continued to wreak havoc on Clark and her family as she also lost her 31-year-old son, Michael Kevin Maschari, on Sept. 1, 2021, to an overdose as well.
“What I want people to know is that my two children (I have seven), were much more than their addiction,” she said. “Michael was funny, caring, loving, sporty, handsome, and my son whom I loved with all my heart.
“I am not ashamed of my children because they suffered from the disease of addiction, that is not what defined them.”
When Noelle Maschari died, Clark found that her daughter also left behind “an entire journal filled with nothing but prayers she had written asking God to help her.”
“This showed me that all the things drugs had done to change her, they did not succeed in changing her soul,” the mother said. “I have to believe that God did save her, not the way I wanted, her demons here are Earth were too much for her.
“But now, I can have some kind of peace knowing that both of my children are now safe, happy, healthy and together. I will grieve the loss of my children until the day I get to see them again, and that is the price you pray for unconditional love.”
In Michael Maschari’s memory, Clark added “Michael’s Place @ Project Noelle” which is part of the organization geared toward helping children who have suffered the loss of a parent to overdose with sports registration fees and equipment.
Clark said she chose the sports aspect for Michael’s Place due to Michael Maschari’s involvement and love of sports.
Project Noelle is hosting Fentanyl Awareness Day on May 9 at the Jackson Pier, Mylander Pavilion, in Sandusky.
For more information about the organization or to volunteer, visit projectnoelle.com.
