The Call for Action team works to get a family back on their feet

(WXYZ) - It has been an incredibly difficult journey for 47-year-old Jimmy Howard of Detroit and his fiance Jessica Callahan.

Their journey began three weeks ago when a monster fire destroyed their Devonshire Avenue home on the city’s eastside and everything in it - a huge fire that nearly killed Jimmy, Jessica, 8-year-old Serenity and 1-year-old Isabella.

Firefighters say Jimmy saved the entire family by breaking out a large window to allow the family to climb to safety.

Now it’s a brand new day and thanks to WXYZ-TV’s Call for Action team, Jimmy and his family are riding in a stretch black limousine, provided by Metro Cars, free of charge for this family that has been through so much.  The Howard’s are on their way to an all-day shopping spree for new clothes, all courtesy of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

We begin at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Detroit.  Here, Jimmy and Jessica and the kids will be picking out everything they need to start their lives fresh again.

For Jimmy the first order of business is finding a couple of new suits.  “There are so many fantastic suits to choose from,” Jimmy beams.

For Jessica, it’s a pair of new shoes - maybe several pairs in different colors.

Now it’s little Serenity’s turn to shop and with a big, bright smile on her face she knows exactly what she wants: several sporty and colorful mini-dresses in pastel shades.

A few new toys later and the Howard’s pick out new clothes for 1-year-old Isabella.

In the end, after hours of prowling the shopping isles, Jimmy and his family leave St. Vincent De Paul’s with four shopping carts filled to over-flowing with beautiful new clothes.

We at the Call for Action team want to send out our thanks to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Metro Cars for all of their help.