why Project 12.31?

I lost my job in March of 2022 and while at the time it was emotionally devastating, I had a support system (shoutout to the best family and friends!) and the beginnings of a plan. Since I didn’t have a job, I made sure to take a walk every day around my Upper East Side neighborhood and after a few days, I noticed many corners with multiple people experiencing homelessness. I also began to notice how those with homes were interacting, or not interacting, with their unhoused neighbors. I could see people who wanted to help but didn’t know how, others were annoyed as they had places to go and others felt a mix of shame, guilt, anger and apathy.

I just kept thinking what if this were me? What if I didn’t have an incredible support system or a plan? I could be one financial or emotional emergency away from homelessness and how would people treat me?  

I started praying on what I could do to be a part of the solution and while reading my Bible I came across Mark 12:31 in which Jesus said …”Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater”…

Project 12.31 was created because while it is a seemingly simple ask to love your neighbor like you love yourself, for a variety of reasons, it’s really hard to do well and with consistency. Kindness, generosity and connection are contagious so I really want to make it easy for people to be kind, generous and connected to their neighbors, housed or unhoused. 

I hope you will join us at Project 12.31 as we journey from empathy, apathy, and the unknown to active compassion, extreme generosity, radical kindness and intentional connection.

Amanda

Founder and CEO