Cedars, November 2018

November 2018 6 CAMPUS Mercy Bracelets Company launched by Cedarville student helps build a hospital brick-by-brick. Photo by Grace Noelle Mercy bracelets was started in June 2018 by Hannah Lamarco and has been spreading rapidly. Lamarco started the company to raise money for a hospital in Haiti. by Zach Krauss H annah Lamarco, a junior business management major and founder of Mercy Bracelets, started the company after a trip that she took to Haiti in the spring of 2018. The trip involved working with children in the community of Les Cayes as well as assisting with the construction of Mercy Hospital, which began construction three years ago as a method of caring for the people of Les Cayes and surrounding areas. “This trip changed my life,” Lamarco said. “As I came back to the states, I knew that we had to continue to be a part of what God is doing in Haiti.” Continuing that mission took shape in the form of Mer- cy Bracelets. Customers can purchase bracelets in different styles, knowing that for each bracelet purchased, $5 will be sent directly to Haiti to buy supplies for the hospital. In an email interview, Lamarco said she never expected the com- pany to be so successful. “I remember counting the people in my head that would buy one and thought ‘maybe I can sell like 9 or 10 of them,’” Lamarco said. “God had a different plan; what it is now is just a result of following one step at a time, trusting that God already knew what he was going to do with it.” Since starting her company, Lamarco has sold over 600 bracelets, and has expanded the options for customers from her original set. Mercy Bracelets began with three styles: marble white, matte black, and a “string mix.” Lamarco has since expanded the collection to include lilac and blush styles as well as the latest update, the “Fall Set,” which in- cludes a Bonfire and an Evergreen style. The hashtag for the company is #BraceletsToBricks, which explains the company’s mission. Every month, La- marco sends each dollar of proceeds to her contacts in Haiti who use the money to continue building Mercy Hospital. “Mercy stands for love; loving God and loving others,” Lamarco said. “And turning bracelets into bricks is how we do that.” Lamarco said her favorite part of starting this company has been seeing other people get excited about what God is doing in Haiti.