Four enterprising DECA students from Lockport High School recently wrapped up a highly successful, week-long school store project in partnership with the local 7Brew, raising a total of $587. Andrew Walker, Andrew Havens, Joshua Anderson, and Veran Beverly demonstrated DECA’s ongoing commitment to community service; over half of the proceeds were donated directly to Sister Helen’s Food Pantry to help combat local food insecurity.
DECA is an international Career and Technical Student Organization that prepares high school and college students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. This project was an exercise in maximizing revenue for the school store within a one-week timeframe. Students to maximize revenue for the school store within a strict one-week timeframe.
Recognizing the recent buzz surrounding the new 7Brew location in Lockport, high school senior Andrew Walker proposed a collaboration with the drive-thru coffee chain. The strategy proved to be an absolute hit. Because Lockport High School students are not permitted to leave the building during the school day, Walker came up with a clever solution: bring the 7Brew directly to students and staff. The idea was implemented and created an immediate, high-demand market across the high school; bringing the popular beverages directly to them created an immediate, high-demand market.
The initiative perfectly blended DECA’s focus on real-world business experience with grassroots philanthropy. Over half of the $587 raised will support Sister Helen’s Food Pantry, a 100% volunteer-run organization that has been fighting food insecurity in Lockport since 1983. Operating out of St. John the Baptist church, the pantry serves between 100 and 150 local families each week. Because it relies entirely on community support rather than regional food banks, local fundraisers like this one are vital to keeping its shelves stocked.
The impact of the students’ hard work was deeply felt by the pantry’s leadership.
“Sister Helen’s Food Pantry is very grateful to the DECA Club students and their teacher Jill DiTullio for sponsoring a food drive,” said Gracie Scirto, Fundraiser Chair for Sister Helen’s Food Pantry. “The amazing amount of food they collected will help us feed the many families that depend on us to help them put food on their tables.”
District leadership also noted the exceptional character of the students involved. Mrs. Wylke, Lockport High School’s principal, shared her pride in the project’s outcome: “I am impressed and humbled by the students of Lockport over and over again. Their donation of time and money shows how fascinating their philanthropic nature is.”
“We want to thank the Lockport 7Brew for their willingness to work with us and help fundraise for their new local community.”