EDWARDSBURG — The Edwardsburg community has pulled together to support an Edwardsburg High School student.

On Dec. 13, EHS student Ella Merrill lost control of her car on snowy roads and collided with an Edwardsburg school bus. At the time of the accident, Merrill was taken to South Bend Memorial Hospital with severe brain trauma. Recently, Merrill has been transferred to a specialist in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has begun breathing on her own.

Since the accident, the community has rallied in support of Merrill. People have changed their Facebook profile pictures to pictures of Merrill. GoFundMe pages have been launched. Local businesses have displayed “Pray for Ella” on their outdoor electric signs. Local businesses have been selling “#prayforella” wristbands and T-shirts to raise money for her care. Most recently, community members hosted a benefit for Merrill Tuesday at the Hope of Edwardsburg Church. For the benefit, local vendors, selling products such as LulaRoe, 31 Bags, Perfectly Posh and more sold items and donated a portion of their profits to Merrill’s family.

“We held the fundraiser for Ella and her family to help with some of the medical costs they have incurred,” said Mikki Spagnoli, a family friend of the Merrill’s who helped organize the event Tuesday. “There is a large cost involved with her care in the last month and whatever will happen with Ella in the future. We wanted to help.”

The event Tuesday was well attended, and Spagnoli said she experienced an outpouring of support for Merrill at the event.

Spagnoli said she was not surprised about the amount of support for Merrill and her family, as both are well loved in the community.

“The family is very involved in the community and the county, and Ella is a big part of the school system and is very much loved by a number of individuals,” Spagnoli said. “There was an acknowledgement [at the event] of people that they were praying for Ella and everything the family is going through.”

Spagnoli said the family is asking the community for prayers at this time, and the family’s webpage says that they are thankful for the continuing support from the community.

“They are a faith driven family, so they know the power of prayer,” Spagnoli said.

For updates on Merrill’s condition and to support her and her family, visit: caringbridge.org/visit/ellamerrill. Wristbands and T-shirts in support of Ella can be purchased at Edwardsburg Fitness, 69855 Rolen Dr., Edwardsburg, and La Place for Latte, 25990 US-12, Edwardsburg.