NATCHEZ — Sometimes a smile on someone else’s face is worth more than any other fortune.

For Meredith Faust, giving 100 percent of her proceeds from fundraisers involving jewelry manufactured by Premier Designs is not something she wants to be praised for, but rather, she views her good deeds as a requirement of service to God.

“I was compelled,” Faust said. “I have a desire to do it. I don’t know most of these people, but to see someone smile because you helped them always means a lot.”

Faust began her contributions with fundraising through Premier Designs after visiting a jewelry party at a friend’s house six years ago. At the time, Faust didn’t even wear jewelry.

Faust felt the Lord calling her to join Premier Designs, which supports missions all over the world and was founded to give single moms an income without leaving the house. From there, the fundraisers came and went with Faust giving a certain percentage of the money she made to good causes.

Then, the entire community was stricken with sadness as fellow church member Bequette, 4, emerged in a battle with cancer.

“When Brody got sick, whenever they were fairly certain he had cancer, all I could think was I could raise money really fast,” Faust said. “Our community was amazing in that. I didn’t give 100-percent because I’m an awesome person, I did it because as Christians, we’re supposed to serve other people.”

Faust created signs immediately with the tag “Hope for Brody” at the top. For $29, members of the community could purchase a stone necklace with the word hope at the top and an October birthstone in the middle of a flower.

With the change in her strategy, the jeweler, Premier Designs, still made 50-percent, while Faust’s 50-percent was given to Bequette.

“Everything changed when Brody got sick,” Faust said as tears rolled down her face. “I knew that his mom, Crystal (Davis), was struggling, and in giving everything, I got blessed so much.”

Faust didn’t stop with BeQuette.

Following a recent tragedy that saw Tyler Brumfield’s life taken and Nikki Worthey severely injured in a car wreck, Faust designed flyers for the jewelry. For $84, one could purchase a sterling silver cross necklace in memory of Brumfield, and 100-percent of Faust’s proceeds were split equally between Worthey and the Central Mississippi Down Syndrome Society. Along with that, those around the community could support Worthey further by purchasing a $46 necklace to support her.

In terms of any business strategy involving the fundraisers, Faust chose faith over finance.

“I felt that if I was faithful with my fundraiser, God was going to provide,” Faust said. “If we’re the servants we’re supposed to be, God covers everything else.”

Faust hopes this new journey she’s ventured on won’t be a lonely one. She hopes other will follow suit and reach out to those in the community who could use a helping hand.

“I hope that it’s contagious,” Faust said. “We should all do more.”