On December 21, 2011 my daughter Ellie Morin accidentally overdosed. She was 20 years old. She had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder a few months prior. I often think that Ellie's sensitivity and big heart were just too much for this world. Singer Don McLean's lyrics, "This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you," frequently come to mind.
Ellie was extremely devoted to her family and friends and was very close to her brother and sister.
Ellie's sister Katie wrote this about her sister after her passing, "You are the one who reminds me every day to be kind to others, not to judge or make assumptions, to give it all I've got and not take life too seriously, to laugh a lot and make people feel good, to be generous - with my time, my knowledge, and my heart - to tell the truth and to spend the last $20 in my pocket on my friends if that's what I want to do." That's the kind of person Ellie was - spending her last $20 on her friends and loved ones.
My family, needless to say, was devastated and struggled to find a way to express our grief. Project Ellie was born from that grief. My husband Scott, son Matt, daughter Katie, and I wanted to find something to do on the day of her passing that would provide us with something meaningful, would honor Ellie, and would help bring us healing. Matt came up with the idea of creating gift bags for people experiencing homelessness, and that is what we did. On Dec. 21, 2014, family and close friends roamed the streets of Boston giving out bags filled with hats, gloves, gift cards, and food items to homeless individuals we encountered. This tradition continued for several years.
The outpouring of support from family and friends has now helped to transform Project Ellie into something so much bigger than a single night event on the streets of Boston. These days we have pivoted away from gift bags, but continue to find avenues to support individuals experiencing homelessness and to spread kindness, just like Ellie would have.