At first glance, a small Rainbow Loom bracelet may seem like nothing more than a colorful accessory. But for the founders of Hands of Hope, a growing student-led organization at TCU, these bracelets hold way more weight. They are symbols of comfort and connection for orphans around the world who have faced unimaginable trauma. Hands of Hope began when the founder, Valentina Morales, was on a service trip with the Orphaned Starfish Foundation, an organization that travels the world helping orphans and at-risk youth to break the cycle of poverty by providing education and job training/placement, and she met a young girl who handed her a bracelet as a gesture of gratitude. Valentina gave her one in return, and that simple exchange stayed with her. “I wanted to give bracelets to every orphan I saw,” she says. “A bracelet symbolizes connection, hope, and love. I wanted to bring that feeling back to TCU.” Inspired by the booming Taylor Swift bracelet-swapping trend, this simple moment turned into a life-changing philanthropic endeavor. Â
From there, she teamed up with another TCU student, Lily Jamil, and Hands of Hope began. The early days were a whirlwind of building an Instagram page, setting goals, figuring out shipping logistics, rallying donations, and creating a logo. Soon after recruiting Lily, they brought on more friends to tackle marketing and recruitment and started to lay the foundation for their long-term mission: bringing emotional support to orphans, especially those who have been victims of abuse or trafficking, through small handmade bracelets.Â
Today, the organization partners closely with the Orphaned Starfish Foundation, sending bracelets along on their trips to orphanages worldwide. After only a few months on campus, Hands of Hope bracelets have reached Honduras and Brazil, with hopes of expanding to 30 countries in the coming years. “Right now, we’re focusing on Brazil and hope to officially partner with three orphanages there by December,” Lily explains. “These kids often feel isolated. A bracelet reminds them someone far away cares enough to make something just for them.”Â
But Hands of Hope is not just making an impact overseas; it’s also building community here on campus. Meetings often look more like craft hangouts than formal gatherings. Students gather together with Rainbow Loom, string, beads, snacks, and Celsius to make bracelets. Even fraternity men have found themselves making some after stopping by the club’s tables at Frog Fountain. “We want people to come with their friends, meet new people, and feel a sense of community,” Valentina says. “It’s service, but it’s also fun and therapeutic.”Â
That sense of belonging is something Recruitment Chair Caitlyn Robuck sees firsthand. She organizes outreach, leads the ambassador program, and attends every meeting. “Our community is incredibly welcoming,” she says. “Even the shyest people feel included and valued. Watching our membership grow to around 200 people in such a short time has been so rewarding.” The exec team hopes to continue expanding Hands of Hope’s presence on campus. They’ve already partnered with Greek organizations, including Kappa Delta and Kappa Alpha Theta, and are working on bringing food trucks to meetings while continuing to grow their existing sponsorship with Celsius to help attract even more club members.Â
Beyond logistics and growth, Hands of Hope has grown its leaders in tremendous ways. “This experience taught me so much about leadership,” Lily reflects. “It brought me out of my shell.” Valentina echoes this, “It’s bigger than just me making bracelets. Seeing how people find happiness in serving others has been incredible.” At its core, the mission remains deeply personal. Caitlyn explains, “Being in a leadership position has completely reshaped the way I think about service, teamwork, and kindness. A strong service club brings together so many different personalities, and getting to use my strength in hospitality has been incredibly rewarding.” That same spirit of compassion guides every bracelet they make. If each member could tell every child who receives one message, it would be this: your circumstances do not define who you are, or who you can become.
As the organization looks toward the future, the exec members all share the same dream: that Hands of Hope continues long after they graduate. “I want to keep it going,” Valentina says. “It’s impacting more than just our campus; it’s bringing hope to people around the world.” And all of it starts with something small enough to fit around your wrist, but powerful enough to remind every child that they matter.Â