Our Story

Hi, we are the Pierres! David, Erica, and our daughter Arielle Pierre. We are a small family business but most importantly we are humans helping humans.

I (David) grew up along with my 6 older brothers in the city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Yes, you are reading that right, I’m the youngest of 7. My dad worked day in and day out as a mason but there were still days my family and I went without food and water. My dad’s work ethic and my mom’s big heart are the building blocks of my character and the environment I was raised in. While I was still a teenager and into my early 20s, I created an orphanage for the kids in my community and it all started with giving them some of my food, that my parents had given me. The word spread that I was handing out food and playing soccer in the streets. Soon I had 22 kids on my hands who I felt responsible for, and that started the process of creating my orphanage and working with a variety NGOs in the area. While I was caring for the kids in the orphanage I was also playing and practicing on the Haitian National soccer team. It was one of the ways I was able to provide food for the kids. I was always looking for ways to help my community and build a network of people who would walk alongside me on the journey. It seems history is repeating itself as I build a community of people who have big hearts and can see the vision and mission behind Lavni Products. .

Unlike David who grew up in one community, I (Erica) grew up in a few states and cities. I was born in Minnesota, moved to Iowa, then moved back to Minnesota, then somehow ended up in Kansas for high school. I then moved back to Iowa to attend Iowa State University and moved right back to Minnesota where I thought I would be for awhile. God had other plans and moved me to Colorado, which was an amazing experience but that only lasted two years and I was moving across the country, to Virginia, where I did freelance graphic design for a few months before I finally landed in North Carolina, where my feet have firmly stayed for a solid 3.5 years! As a little girl I always wanted to be a missionary, my heart was always with people in another country. When I went to college I intended to come out an architect and instead came out a graphic designer. My heart has never faltered, in the desire to build lasting relationships with people and work them in helping make a positive impact on their communities. I didn’t always know how I was going to do that, but through Lavni Products it’s becoming a little clearer.

There have been a variety of twists and turns in both of our life stories but what’s important is that we are so excited to be on this journey and that you are joining us. We value all of your support and can not wait to see the impact that this business has on the communities in Haiti.