Local businesses have joined in to help support the family of 28-year-old Alex Habib, the Madison Heights father of two killed during a police chase one week ago.
A GoFundMe started to support Habib’s family has already raised more than $100,000.
New Heights Nutrition in Madison Heights donated a portion of its proceeds on Saturday to the family. Donations can also be made through Cream n’ Crumble, with 100% of all proceeds on orders through the end of July going to support Habib’s wife Danielle and two young children, 1-year-old Eleanora and 3-month-old Santiago.
“Just to get a phone call and to hear there was a car crash and someone that you love so dearly, someone that’s such a light in the world has passed, you don’t really know how to take that,” said Vivian Shaya, owner of Cream n’ Crumble and Habib’s cousin.
Shaya grew up living next door to Habib and his family. As kids, she says her cousins were always by her side. She describes Habib as being like a little brother.
“There was just never a time that you didn’t have fun when Alex was around,” Shaya said. “He was just the goofball. He would walk into a room that was so serious and he would walk in and crack a joke and it’s like you can’t help but laugh.”
Habib was driving for Uber last Saturday when police say 16-year-old Daniel Canales fled from officers in a stolen car, reaching speeds of more than 130 miles per hour before hitting him at the intersection of 11 Mile and Van Dyke Avenue.
As the community came together to raise money for Habib’s family, Shaya knew she could use her business to raise even more.
“I’ve grown such a platform within my own community, it was honestly such a no-brainer to me,” Shaya said. “It was how can we help Danielle out, how can we help her kids out, what can I do within my own business?”
Immediately after launching the fundraiser, Shaya received a flood of orders. On its first day she had already filled more than 150 orders and raised more than $700.
She said people from across the Metro Detroit area have reached out to help.
“There are people that are within our own backyard that are ordering and then I had someone that came 45 minutes from Grosse Pointe because she was so impacted by his story and who he was as a person,” Shaya said.
She said the way the community has rallied around Habib’s family has been overwhelming.
“It’s an indescribable feeling. It’s humbling and it’s so beautiful to see,” Shaya said. “We were talking about it amongst our family, and everyone was just saying how amazing is it that the community has come together the way that they have because of who Alex is.”
Orders can be placed through the Cream n’ Crumble Instagram.