Student makes bracelets for recent tragedies


Those who participated in the sleep out spent all of Thursday night in a Hollywood parking lot. (Photo courtesy of Laura Ponder)

Senior Ashley Daily’s hometown, Thousand Oaks, faced  two major crises earlier this month.

On Nov. 8, she tragically learned that her friend Noel Sparks was one of the 12 people who died in the mass shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill. The next day, her family was told to evacuate as the Woolsey fire encroached on their community. However, her family  decided to stay

At first, Daily struggled to comprehend the tragedies that came one after another.

“[I] just started screaming at God and saying, ‘Why is this happening? What good is supposed to come from this?’” said Daily, who is majoring in business administration. “And I felt this instant amount of peace, just felt the strength to continue going forward.”

She was inspired to put design and sell wristbands to raise money for families affected by the shooting and wildfire. So far, Daily has raised $2,550 for both causes.

Daily was inspired when she saw a bracelet in her home, and realized she could make and sell her own bracelets to garner donations.

“I stayed up until four in the morning from Friday to Saturday just creating the bracelets and doing some market research, seeing what people would buy and then [I] put the link up on Saturday morning,” Daily said. “Originally, I was looking at thicker Livestrong-style bracelets and through texting my friends and asking what they would purchase, everyone wanted a thinner bracelet.”

Two bracelet designs honor Sparks and Ventura County sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus, who was killed trying to stop the shooting. There is also an option to customize bracelets with loved ones’ names online.

Katia Ellati, a senior majoring in business administration and Daily’s friend, encouraged her own friends and family to buy the bracelets. 

“It’s been so beautiful, especially because she’s helping so many families that are mourning and also with the wildfires people have lost a lot of their homes, so this has given hope,” Ellati said. “I think she has done such a beautiful job with it, and it’s such an amazing idea.”

Stephanie Corrigan, a senior majoring in political science, said she is inspired by how Daily used her pain to help others.

“It’s something so close to home, and she felt very helpless, and so it gave her an opportunity to actually do something about it,” said Corrigan, who was with Daily when she learned of Sparks’ death. “Even though it’s something small by some people’s standards, it can have huge repercussions because it’s raising awareness, getting a conversation and discussion going, and it’s keeping it alive and keeping it in people’s memories.”

Daily said she plans to continue donating to families for as long as people show interest.

She hopes the fundraiser provides hope for those affected by the tragedies. Since starting the fundraiser, Daily has received emails from friends and strangers thanking her for giving them a way to help.

“I think that that was God’s [plan] for the whole thing,” Daily said. “He gave me the strength to push through and continue forward even though I was broken myself, so that the other people could feel like they’re not helpless in this situation.”