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Seaholm High School student creates nonprofit to help people in need of clothing

A high school senior from Birmingham is making a significant impact in her community by helping others feel confident through her nonprofit organization.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report: Seaholm High School student creates nonprofit to help people in need of clothing

Tessa Shane, a senior at Seaholm High School, founded The Donation Closet after stepping away from sports. Her journey began when she got involved with the New Jersey-based organization Hoodies for the Homeless in 2024.

"I started a Michigan chapter for that, and I was getting a lot of donations coming to my house, so I decided I needed a place to put everything," Shane said.

That place became the basement of her family's home.

"Figured nobody was really using it, and why not take the couch out and all the furniture, and buy some racks, and let's make use of this," said Jennifer Shane, Tessa's mother.

The growth Shane saw with Hoodies for Homeless inspired her to create The Donation Closet in the summer of last year, where she coordinates clothing donation drives for people in need.

"People can drop donations off at my house, or they'll drop it off at my high school," Shane said. "I'll go to my basement, and I'll sort everything, and then I have different racks from like kids, women's, men's, and then like the different sizes."

Since starting her nonprofit, Shane has collected around 10,000 garments, which she delivers to organizations around Metro Detroit for distribution. On Wednesday, she delivered donations to the Michigan Foster Care Closet in Ann Arbor, where children in foster care can shop for free.

"This is a place where they belong, and they come in our doors, and they know that. And they get to choose anything they want, and they don't worry about price, and they get to find their favorite characters," said Lynda Cooney, a board member at Michigan Foster Care Closet.

The organization serves between 120 and 150 youth each month, highlighting the critical need for donations.

"When people like Tessa come in and drop off large donations, it allows us to do what we do," Cooney said.

The Donation Closet has helped around 18 other nonprofits and even families impacted by the LA wildfires. Shane hopes her work encourages others to give back to their communities.

"It fills. me up with happiness that I'm able to help other people," Shane said. "I just think that everyone should do something and help the community."

When she goes off to college, Shane plans to create another chapter of The Donation Closet in that area.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Troy High School students learn CPR and AED skills in honor of fallen classmate

Dozens of students at Troy High School received hands-on training in CPR and automated external defibrillator use Thursday, learning life-saving skills in memory of a classmate who died from sudden cardiac arrest.

The training session was led by Jennifer Shea, manager of Corewell Health's Student Heart Check Program, who emphasized that anyone can save a life during an emergency.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: Students at Troy High School learning life saving skills

"You don't have to be an adult, you don't have to be a medical professional," Shea said. "You just have to recognize that someone needs help, get 911 called and push hard and fast at the center of their chest until you have someone else come help you."

The training holds special significance for the Troy High School community. In May of last year, Bilal Ahmad was attending a freshman orientation event at the school when his mother, Farah Ahmad, received a devastating phone call from his friends.

"I just got a call from his friends that, you know, 'auntie, Bilal collapsed,'" Ahmad said.

Bilal suffered sudden cardiac arrest, which his mother says was contributed to by an infection that caused myocarditis. Despite life-saving measures being performed, the episode claimed his life.

"He loved his friends, he loved playing games and he loved helping others," said Imran Ahmad, Bilal's father.

Junior Leah Bosman said the tragedy has motivated the school community to take action.

"It was obviously incredibly sad for a lot of people, but we're trying to spin it to a week of joy and community of what we can all do together," Bosman said.

For many students, the training was their first real exposure to CPR techniques.

"You hear CPR all the time, like people talk about CPR, but not that many people actually know the steps do it," Bosman said.

Senior Danna Shkoukani said the training gave her confidence to help in an emergency situation.

"If I ever had to perform CPR, I now know the steps to take," Shkoukani said. "CPR can save lives just like Bilal's. I think it's amazing."

The Ahmad family expressed gratitude that the training was being held in honor of their son.

During Troy High School's upcoming Activist Week, students who participated in Thursday's training will share their new skills with classmates, with leaders from Corewell Health in attendance.

"I think that if he were here, he would want us to be doing this," Bosman said.

Corewell Health is also working to prevent tragedies before they happen. The organization will hold a free student heart screening event at Hazel Park High School on Feb. 7. To sign up, visit Corewell's website.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Travelers express security concerns after car crashes into Detroit Metro Airport

As the Wayne County Airport Authority continues its investigation into a car that crashed into the McNamara Terminal, questions continue to swirl about the incident.

Video of a car inside Detroit Metro Airport's McNamara Terminal continues to draw attention as travelers checked into their flights Monday following Friday night's crash that injured six people.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: Concerns raised over how a man drove his car into Metro Airport

The incident occurred when a man drove a Mercedes vehicle through one of the airport's entrances.

Cathy Smith, a traveler at the airport, was originally scheduled to fly that day but had moved her flight.

"I could've been there. I could've been in international getting checked in and this whole car came into the airport. Like what the heck happened," Smith said.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' report when the car crashed through the airport below: Mercedes slams into McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metro Airport

Many travelers expressed relief that more damage wasn't done.

"You know, it gets a lot busier during certain times. That could've been really bad and we don't need that at this terminal, at this airport because it's really nice, right? And you don't expect something like that to happen," Pete Fisher said.

The incident has left many wondering how such a breach could occur.

"It seems like it's a little too easy to be able to do something like that to harm large crowds of people," Fisher said.

While the intent of the driver remains unclear, the Wayne County Airport Authority says the man behind the wheel has been petitioned for medical evaluation.

Video: Traveler recalls car slamming through Detroit Metro Airport Interview: Traveler recalls car slamming through Detroit Metro Airport

Regarding changes to prevent similar incidents, airport officials declined to go on camera but provided a statement addressing their security review.

"As a result of this incident, WCAA is reviewing our security and safety measures and will make any improvements or adjustments as necessary. Additionally, WCAA continuously reviews safety and security measures for improvement in general," the statement read.

Andy Bartnowak, a former FBI supervisor, expressed surprise that someone was able to maneuver a car into the airport.

"Because the number of times I've been to Metro Airport, especially to drop somebody off, it's usually three lanes deep of vehicles," Bartnowak said.

While posts currently block the terminal's entrances, Bartnowak believes the airport needs to examine its vulnerabilities more thoroughly.

"Which in this case, could be as simple as adding some additional security barriers," Bartnowak said.

The Wayne County Airport Authority says any charges for the driver have yet to be determined.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Beloved Ann Arbor music venue Johnny's Speakeasy rises from ashes with community support

A cherished Ann Arbor music venue is getting a second chance at life thanks to an outpouring of community support more than three years after a devastating fire.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report: Beloved music venue Johnny's Speakeasy rising from the ashes

Johnny's Speakeasy, which hosted hundreds of musical acts over the years, suffered major damage in a September 2022 fire that forced owner John Williams from his home and shuttered the beloved venue on Dexter Road.

Now, with $70,000 in community donations, including materials and labor, the space is being rebuilt with the help of Doug Selby, a co-founder of Meadowlark Design+Build.

"I saw this nice little old lady's house and thought this was a nice, big backyard. And then I went down in the basement and did like everybody does, I go 'What is this,'" Williams said, recalling when he first discovered the property in the 1990s.

The basement, originally a fruit cellar from the 1800s, had been used for music by previous owners. Williams built on that history, transforming it into Johnny's Speakeasy, a small music venue that became a community gathering place.

"I figure I've had over 500 acts here," Williams said.

The September 2022 fire not only destroyed the venue but also displaced Williams from his home. Adding to his struggles, dealing with insurance proved difficult.

"That took a toll on me. I told my lawyer, you know what, I don't want to fight this anymore. I don't know what's going to happen," Williams said.

Selby, who had visited the venue for years, understood what made Johnny's Speakeasy special to the local music community.

"I feel like musicians would put on their best show because they knew other musicians were in the crowd. So you really got this unique, amazing experience," Selby said.

The rebuilding effort aims to preserve that magic of the intimate venue.

"Down in the speakeasy, we have a lot of old reclaimed lumber and a lot of stuff we were able to get out of there and save. And I think it'll be different but just as magical," Selby said.

To complete the project, organizers need to raise an additional $140,000. Despite the financial challenge ahead, those involved remain optimistic about the progress made after years of uncertainty.

"In these dark times, it really restores your faith in humanity," Williams said.

For Selby and other community members, the project represents more than just rebuilding a venue.

"We want to have the venue back, but we also want John to stay in our community and live here," Selby said.

The goal is to move Williams back into his home by next winter, with music performances resuming sometime after that.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Detroit Auto Show brings Power Wheels cars to Mott Children's Hospital patients

Detroit Auto Show organizers brought joy directly to young patients at Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor on Friday, hosting their first-ever Charity Preview Junior event ahead of the show's return to Huntington Place.

The special event featured 20 Power Wheels cars donated to the hospital through the initiative, giving kids a new way to navigate their medical journey with a sense of control and fun.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: Detroit Auto Show brings Power Wheels cars to Mott Children's Hospital patients

"It's really hard for kids when they're in the hospital to have any type of control. They're under a protocol, there's shots, there's things happening to them," said Luanne Thomas Ewald, president of Mott Children's Hospital.

The Power Wheels cars will remain at the hospital year-round and be deployed across various floors, allowing young patients to drive themselves to procedures.

"Unfortunately, these families can't leave the hospital for an extended period of time. We want to make sure they have something that connects them with the show and let them know that we're thinking about them and hopefully feel a little bit better about the situation they're dealing with," said Sam Klemet, executive director of Detroit Auto Show.

For kids who got their first chance to cruise the hospital halls, the experience was simple but meaningful. One young patient summed it up in just two words: "Very fun."

Parents also appreciated the program's impact on their children's hospital experience.

"It's great to see the kids have fun and drive the cars, and it gives them something to do, it breaks up their days. Yeah, it's awesome," said Clint Karsemeyer, a parent at the hospital.

Thomas Ewald emphasized how programs like this help normalize the hospital experience for young patients.

"To be able to drive themselves to surgery, drive themselves to a procedure, drive themselves into the lobby on their way out of the hospital, and so for us, it's very important and special," she said. "Those are things that families don't expect but just adds so much joy and so much normalcy to a child while they're with us."

Detroit Auto Show organizers said they hope to continue the Charity Preview Junior program in future years as the main event prepares to return to Huntington Place.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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