Maranatha’s Pop-Up Event Brings a Little Bit of Hope to Wildfire Victims

This past weekend, Maranatha High School partnered with local non-profit TellTheirStories.org and 11th Hour Productions to host a pop-up clothing event that supported families impacted by the LA wildfires.

The two-day event, held on January 18-19, provided new and gently used clothing, personal items, toys, and more to hundreds of individuals and families in need. It was inspired by the efforts of Maranatha alum Stephen Enloe ’15 and his family, who collaborated with TellTheirStories.org to magnify the generosity of churches and schools in the Temecula, CA area. Their hard work resulted in nearly 4,000 large bags of donations—enough to fill a 30-foot box truck—which they transported to Pasadena on Friday. Volunteers worked late into the night to organize the items.

Generous contributions from businesses like Hot Topic, which donated 50 boxes of new clothing, and Converse, which provided 40 pairs of sneakers, helped transform Maranatha’s Student Center into a welcoming shopping space. When the doors opened at 10:00 AM on Saturday, guests were greeted with coffee, bagels, and warm smiles as they entered a thoughtfully arranged area with clothing racks and tables organized by size and type. Volunteers, many of whom heard about the event through a list of relief centers posted on social media, continued to unpack and sort items throughout the weekend to ensure everyone could find what they needed. One father and his teenage daughter drove up from Orange County to volunteer, embodying the spirit of community and care that defined the weekend.

For many guests, the event was about more than clothing. “It’s not just about the clothes—it’s knowing that people care,” shared one attendee.

Though the pop-up was a weekend event, the need is ongoing. TellTheirStories.org hopes to host another event soon and is actively seeking volunteers to help. If you’re inspired to get involved or want to learn more, you can follow them on Instagram at @telltheirstoriesorg. Together, we can continue to bring hope and healing to those who need it most.

Maranatha High School, 169 S. St. John Avenue, Pasadena, (626) 817-4000 or visit www.maranathahighschool.org.