Eleven By Louise is named for Louise Weller, who raised nine children in Walworth, New York and gave away more than anyone knew. The eleven is her family: nine children and their parents.
Organized February 2026. Approved by the IRS on May 12, 2026. Seven directors, none of them paid.
The label went on the inside seam, where only the person wearing it would ever find it. A coat handed to someone this winter does not need our name on the outside of it, and the family who receives it does not owe anybody a thank you.
Eleven of us were fed on one income and a garden. Mom knew exactly what a tight month costs a household, which is why nothing here is means-tested into the ground or made complicated. Somebody is short this month, so we help this month.
The mark. An eleven-patch quilt block, one patch for each of us. Small pieces, stitched together, keep someone warm.
The name. Hers, not ours. Eleven By Louise, because she was the one who did this first.
~ Tim Weller
Louise was the only daughter in a family of nine children, and her mother was named Louise too. When Mom was small, her brother Jim asked their mother how two people in the same house could have the same name. Grandma told him to call his sister Susie Q. Jim could not manage Susie, and what came out was Sudie.
It stuck for decades. Mom grew up in Ontario, a couple of miles from the building that now carries the name, and there are still people here who only ever called her Sudie.
Sudie's Place is the drop-off and storage site for non-perishable food and clothing. On any given day some of the nine children, nine in-laws or eighteen grandchildren are there, sorting and carrying boxes out to cars.
We have remodeled the lower level of 6204 Slocum Road to accept and store non-perishable food and clothing. We are working out where to keep larger donations such as furniture and appliances.
Our account is held locally at Lyons National Bank. Bookkeeping and accounting are handled by Doeren Mayhew. Anyone who asks to see how a dollar moved through here can see it.
100% of your donations go to individuals and families in need
The Weller family pays 100% of the administrative costs of Eleven By Louise. There are no wages, no salaries and no compensation of any kind. Any products delivered to recipients are at no cost to the recipient.
Eleven By Louise Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. EIN 41-5159585.
Nine children, nine in-laws and eighteen grandchildren, plus neighbors who have started turning up. If you want to sort, fold, pack or carry, we will find you a shift.
