How Maranatha High School is Giving Back During the Holiday Season
Some people associate the holidays with the words “generosity” or “selflessness”. As the holiday season quickly approaches and as everyone reflects on the meaning of Christmas, these words surface and quickly become meaningful and relevant when helping the local community. One might even say the greatest gift one could give during this time is the gift of giving back to those in need. Take a look at how Maranatha students have been giving back this Christmas season:
• On Tuesday, November 29, Maranatha’s Sports Medicine Club hosted their annual Blood Drive on campus in the Commons. Collectively, MHS students donated 35 pints of blood which can save up to 95 lives! Maranatha High School students eagerly stood in line to donate, and got to enjoy special treats after they completed the process.
• “Dressember” is a campaign to help end modern-day slavery and also fundraise for International Justice Mission and A21, both organizations combating human trafficking. For 31 days, women wear dresses and men wear ties, in order to demonstrate their stand for the God-given right of freedom of all people, and advocate for those who are robbed of that right. The Maranatha Dressember team, comprised of students, faculty, and staff, joined together to fight for those caught in this terrible situation and give a voice to the voiceless. To date, our team has surpassed it’s goal and has raised over $5,000 to support the fight to bring an end to human trafficking in our world. Way to go Team Maranatha! Click here if you’d like to follow their progress or donate.
• MHS’ Cross Country team participated in their annual service project at the Ronald McDonald House with Coach Sarah Baer and Coach Angelo Morton. The Ronald McDonald House is a “home-away-from-home” that allows families to stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost. At every House, families can enjoy home-cooked meals, private bedrooms, and playrooms for children. Our team helped clean the two homes on the site in Pasadena, as well as the outside grounds. Also, as people came to donate items to the organization, the team helped load those items into a storage area. They simply were extra hands, ready to help at any given moment.
• On Saturday, December 3, MHS Dance Company brought the holiday spirit to the residents of Regency Park Oak Knoll Assisted Living Home in Pasadena. Under the direction of dance teacher Anna Gradwohl, MHS’ Dance Company showed up in their Christmas gear, ready to perform for their audience. This was such an incredible opportunity for the students to spread joy and the love of Jesus to those in the local community during such a special time of year as the miracle of His birth is being celebrated.
Maranatha High School, 169 S. St. John Avenue, Pasadena, (626) 817-4000 or visit www.maranatha-hs.org.
