When Dawn Frasa, who works for Home Interior Warehouse, told her 8-year-old daughter Emily Frasa a domestic violence shelter in Detroit only had three videos for the kids to watch, Emily decided to do something.
It was time to help, so she decided to start a video/DVD drive to get more movies for the children to watch.
‘I felt sad that they only had three videos to watch and there are different amounts of children (that come in and out of the shelter),? said Emily.
Home Interior Warehouse Furniture and Design is working with the Michigan Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) to refurbish the YWCA Interim House of domestic violence in Detroit, one of the largest domestic violence sexual assault shelters in the country.
Emily said she came up with the idea at an ‘odd place,? a local gas station. She hopes to get 200 movies so the shelter can switch the movies on the shelf every three or four months so the kids have new videos to watch.
‘I want G, and PG (rated),? said Emily. ‘No movies with any sort of violence because that might bring back memories that they don’t want to think about and I don’t want any videos where they have mean parents or anything like that.?
Emily said if they get too many duplicate movies, she will find another organization to send the duplicates too.
‘I love how Emily just jumps in,? said Dawn. ‘She was very curious when I would go to a committee meeting, curious about the project, and now she is an official committee member and comes to the meetings and gives her report. I am proud of her and I know she will do a good job, she follows through. I know when she gets an idea, she knows how to organize and get things done.?
When asked how she felt being a part of the committee, Emily said,
‘I think we’re all going to make a big difference in these people’s lives and I hope they can enjoy the videos we are going to give them.?
Emily said she hopes to continue to help other charities and wants to become a ‘Jr. Optimist,? one who helps people through community service.
Emily has spent the past four years doing community service with Girl Scouts and hopes to get her troop involved in the video drive.
‘I like helping people, that’s really what I like to do,? she said.
Emily is also a part of ‘Peer Pals,? a group that helps special needs kids, at Clarkston Elementary.
‘I really want to do a lot to help them too, and I would say that I am very involved in that,? said Emily. ‘You hang out with them and become their friend, it’s really fun. It gives you chance to meet new people, even though they have disabilities, they’re no different from you and me.?
Emily enjoys reading mystery and adventure books as well, especially ‘Harry Potter.? She read the newest book in three days. Emily is also a fourth generation Clarkston resident and said she has future aspirations of becoming an artist, scientist or something with medical research to find cures for diseases; however, she noted she hasn’t quite decided exactly what she wants to do.
There is a box located at the Clarkston News office for video drop offs and brochures explaining the project. The drive will be until the end of September. Emily plans on shelving the new videos and DVDs at the shelter sometime in October.
‘The project is completely funded by public donations-there aren’t any corporate sponsors,? said Dawn. ‘Any amount donated even if it’s $5 is appreciated.?
Checks should be made payable to: ‘Interim House? and sent to Jackie Schwartz, Home Interior Warehouse, 1017 E.W. Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390.