Ralph Jarl’s family is donating the proceeds from the bracelets to help other victims of gun violence

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The aunt of gun violence victim Ralph Yarl has started an initiative to shine a light in others’ darkest moments. Hope by Faith Spoonmore uses 100 percent of its bracelet proceeds to help victims of gun violence.

“One day, the value of a human life will not depend on the color of the skin. This is a great hope. So you have to be bright. You have to be brave,” said Ralph Jarl’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore.

The bracelets are handcrafted by artisans in Ghana and come in vibrant shades of red, blue, yellow and all the shades of the rainbow. Spoonmore says she wants others to feel as bright as they look.

Hope by Faith Spoonmore was launched in April 2023 after Jarl was shot and killed by 84-year-old Andrew Lester after knocking on the wrong door in an attempt to pick up his brothers. At that time, only 33 percent of the proceeds went to this cause, and now all the proceeds will. Prosecutors in the case initially said the shooting was racially motivated, then changed their stance and charged only Lester with assault and battery.

“That’s the part I still don’t agree with in Ralph’s case, because they definitely didn’t recognize the big elephant in that case, which is the fact that Ralph is a black boy, and if Ralph was a different color than a Caucasian boy, he probably wouldn’t have been shot,” Spoonmore said.

Spoonmore said the initiative has received overwhelming support from the start. She is grateful that Jarl survived and hopes that the bracelets will reach the families of other victims who did not return home.

“Wow. You know, it just put me in the car when I was going to Children’s Mercy Hospital, and that was my prayer, dear Lord, let him just live,” she said. not get an answer for your family. I am sincerely sorry. You deserve better. This shouldn’t have happened and I’m truly sorry it happened to you.”

Spoonmore hopes the money will help ease the burden for other families in similar situations.

“I’m hoping that if it just covers one bill, one mortgage payment, fills your fridge one time, that’s enough,” she said.

As for Vera herself, she says that her own family is trying to keep hope alive. Her nephew’s shooter, Andrew Lester, is due back in court on November 26 after undergoing a mental health evaluation. Throughout each trial, Spoonmore keeps Ralph at the center of her mind.

“Ralph deserves a life in college where he doesn’t have to worry about a future case being overturned and having to go through the same cycle over and over and over again,” Spoonmore said.

Wristbands can be purchased at Java Garage at 1323 W 13th St, Kansas City, MO 64102 and online.