✨ Year Five of Project Giver ✨

If you’re reading this, it means Project Giver has officially launched—and I can hardly believe it. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this project for the past five years, and it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come.

My own stay in psychiatric care wasn’t a good memory personally, but it inspired me to give back—to help others have a better experience than I did. That’s what makes the world go round: trying to make people feel better, especially in situations that feel isolating. Help someone feel seen. Talk to strangers, tell them their smile is beautiful, and watch their eyes light up. The smallest acts of kindness can grow into the biggest, most impactful things.

I am so grateful to be where I am today. I feel blessed to inspire and help others, using my voice to bring awareness to mental health and make the world a brighter place. These things aren’t easy. Getting help is one of the hardest things anyone can do, let alone sacrificing your daily life for hospitalization. But my stay saved my life. It provided me with the right path for care, helped me find the proper medication and outlets, and inspired me to truly live.

Being in psychiatric care—and all the work that followed—gave me the courage to make big choices: it helped me build Project Giver, drop out of college to pursue my dream of becoming an esthetician, and travel the world with my best friend. My journey has led me to so many amazing opportunities because I chose life and chose to seek help when I needed it most.

Over the years, your support has made all of this possible. From year one, when I quietly pulled everything together, to year two’s first Facebook announcement, to last year—our biggest year yet—you’ve been cheering me on. None of this would exist without this community, and I hope you feel proud too.

As many of you know, I also work as an esthetician at Blush Skin & Soul Spa in Portsmouth, NH. When Ashley, the owner, learned about Project Giver, she immediately offered her support, helping us reach even more people. Sharing this project—and my story—was terrifying at first, but it has turned into the most freeing and gratifying experience of my life. I am forever thankful for the encouragement Ashley has given me. 

Getting help saves lives. It saved mine. None of that would have happened without hitting one of my lowest points.

This year, we’ll continue to impact even more lives and bring greater awareness to the mental health crisis. With hospitalizations rising by 30% during the holidays, it’s more important than ever to remind those who feel forgotten that they are seen, loved, and cared for.

That’s why I invite you to share your stories, too. I’d love to read them—and with your permission, feature a few on our blog to inspire others. You’re always welcome to remain anonymous.

💫 Let’s spread love. Let’s spark resilience. Let’s remind every person struggling that they are not alone.

Thank you for supporting a mission that means so much to me.

With love,
Abbi Pelletier 💙