Citizens in Los Angeles faced distress as rapid, chaotic, and life-threatening fires swept through their homes and communities in late January. People across the nation took notice and took action—including students at West Chicago Community High School.

WeGo Global, a club at WEGO, quickly responded to the crisis by organizing a fundraiser to support those affected. The club’s members, also known as the crisis team, sold Blow Pops during lunch hours, raising approximately $450 for relief efforts.

“We try to act as quickly as we can to raise money so that we can get the money where it’s needed the most, because it is a crisis which means they need money quickly,” Maggie Haas, the WeGo Global sponsor, said.

The funds raised will be donated to Direct Relief, an organization dedicated to supporting people impacted by natural disasters. WeGo Global members believe they can make a difference, ensuring their contributions are as effective as possible.

“When we were looking at problems around the world, the LA wildfires came to all of our attention. The innocent and vulnerable people harmed by the wildfires motivated us to help them in any way. Hence, we chose Direct Relief,” Niyati Patel, a WeGo Global member, said.

For those affected by the wildfires, the loss extends beyond homes—it includes irreplaceable memories, photos, and belongings.

“There’s memories they have in their house, there’s photos they have in their house. There could be memorabilia from a loved one in their house. Now that stuff is all gone,” Haas said.

WeGo Global’s efforts reflect the club’s commitment to addressing global issues with swift and meaningful action.