DECA is currently collecting Build-A-Bears as its annual community service project to give to orphans as Christmas presents. The bears are due on Friday, Dec. 17 and can be turned into DECA adviser Revenia Lock’s room in E205.

“For the last two years [the service project] has been Build-A-Bear,” Lock said. “In the previous years before that, it has been shoes and coats.”

The Texas DECA organization encourages each student in the chapter to build at least one bear and also encourages the chapters to involve as many other organizations in their schools as possible.

“These bears will be dropped off at the San Antonio fire department for children who were abandoned, and we hope that these bears will create a successful and positive vision for these children,” senior DECA member Grace Kim said.

The members in the chapter buy the stuffed bears themselves, as well as the clothes and hats that go along with them, however, anyone is welcome to participate.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for students to change a kid’s life for the holidays,” Lock said. “We currently already have more than eight bears, but other students outside of the club are welcome to join in this cause as well.”

DECA will announce the chapter who achieves the greatest success with the community service project and whoever wins will receive a Texas DECA accomplishment certificate.

“We are having a Christmas party the day we receive all the bears as a way to build relationships in our DECA chapter,” senior DECA president Alana Franklin said. “Other DECA chapters do things like go to a Mavericks game, Dallas Cowboys game or just go out to eat as a group. The stronger relationship we have with others, the better our chapter will become.”