West Bloomfield DECA Students Make a House a Home for Local Family

Pontiac, MI On Wednesday, December 7, students from West Bloomfield High School DECA volunteered their time and knowledge at Humble Design Detroit. Six DECA students helped Humble Design Detroit by participating in a Day of Service by raising over $3500 and spending the day fully furnishing a home for a mother and her five children as they transition out of homeless and abuse shelters.

Humble Design is a nonprofit organization that helps families, individuals, and veterans transition out of homeless and abuse shelters by providing furnishings and design services. The Pontiac organization is given names from homeless and abuse shelters of those who have received approval for housing, the number of members in the home as well as their history. The homes are either rented by the families or they have qualified for government vouchers. The goal of Humble Design is to create a home where families can rebuild their lives.

“With the help of our students, our DECA team, and our local community we were able to raise over $3,500 which is what it costs to move a family into a new home. I am so proud of our students and everyone who reached out to help reach this goal. This is an experience that I wish I could share with all of our students. It gives you perspective. It is our second time volunteering and it is one of my most fulfilling experiences as a teacher in my twenty-four years,” said Julie Zalla, one of five West Bloomfield High School DECA Advisors.

An essential aspect of DECA’s mission is to prepare leaders that are community oriented. This event taught students skills in critical thinking, social intelligence, communication, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and time management while they also became more active members and leaders in the community. Humble Design Detroit shared their gratitude for the work of West Bloomfield High School DECA members and the community as they helped their mission in facilitating the full transformation of empty houses with donations by the community and partners.

Julia Livedoti, Zachary Mathews, and Izabella Marchand volunteered their time at Humble Design Detroit’s warehouse prior to the event to learn more about the organization as they prepared to present their findings and ideas for the DECA State Career Development Conference in March in Detroit. They organized fundraising activities at a local restaurant, and bagel sales at the high school and participated in an online campaign in addition to educating students regarding homelessness. Joining them were fellow West Bloomfield High School DECA members Carter Martin, Milin Sharrow, Safa Syed, and three of their five DECA Advisors Julie Zalla, Laura Wowk, and Lisa Sallen.

“I really enjoyed volunteering hands-on so that I could actually see the amount of effort that went into this project, from the amazing group that did the fundraising to the team that helped decorate the house. The experience made me grateful for all that I have. No feeling compares to finally getting to show the family the finished product!,” said Safa Syed, a West Bloomfield High School DECA member who volunteered at Humble Design Detroit.

“It was a really great experience. Humble Design is an organization I want to continue to support in the future,” said Carter Martin, a West Bloomfield High School DECA member who volunteered at Humble Design Detroit.

“This was such a fulfilling experience. I wish all students could participate in a day of giving. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house and the children’s expressions of gratitude were heartwarming!” Laura Wowk, West Bloomfield High School DECA Advisor.

About West Bloomfield High School DECA
West Bloomfield High School DECA is a Career and Technical Student Organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in four fields of business: marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA integrates into classroom instruction, applies learning, connects to business, and promotes competition to prepare the next generation to be academically prepared, community-oriented, professionally responsible, and experienced leaders.