Find out about our ongoing and previous projects here!
What are we working on?
Our Current Projects include the following current and planned ventures to make positive impacts on the communities around us:
Currently Working On…
Self Expression Project.
A portion of landfill waste is comprised of discarded clothing, exemplified in college campuses. We wanted to disrupt that cycle and redistribute clothing/accessories/equipment to community members in need.
We organize and facilitate UC Berkeley wide/city wide clothing drives, drop offs, and pick up clothing that would have been thrown away around Berkeley. After processing donations and organizing them by type, we hold bi-weekly to monthly free “store” where members of the community can “browse” through items that are organized similar to a storefront.
To date we have redistributed over 1,000 items through community stores in Peoples Park, Berkeley. In doing so, anyone from the community can get good quality clothing and other items like camping equipment and blankets, and winter gear. A surprising aspect of the community’s feedback has been the positive feelings expressed after having the choice of physical self-expression after being able to select between all types, colors, and sizes of clothing.
Care Packages Projects.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of mutual aid more than ever. With this project, our goal is to implore that learning, as we accomplish our main goal of redistributing aid to individuals who need them the most.
We initially started making care packages with food, water, snacks, art supplies, and toiletries. After we packaged the items into reusable bags, we distributed them to individuals in the Berkeley community. We discussed with members of the houseless communities in Berkeley, to make a list of items that are most needed, beneficial, and needed. We were able to source these items through resource drives and drop offs which allowed optimize items in each package.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we discussed with members from the community about what additional items would be helpful in the quarantine. Since 2020, we have been giving COVID care packages which contain the same items from a regular care package with the following added items: disposable masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, gloves, choice of books, and reusable face masks.
Little Free Library Project.
We are currently raising money to build and place a little free library in Berkeley. Our goal is to put a free library in the Berkeley community so that more will have access to a variety of reading material.
We already have a large stock of donated books, some which we have already have individually distributed around the Berkeley community. We also have an approved location to install the library in the city of Berkeley, but we currently need donations in order to build the little free library in a sturdy and all weather manner.
What have we done before?
COVID-19 Care Packages.
Packaging and distributing care packages within the Berkeley community filled with products to prevent oneself from COVID-19, and products to cope with the quarantine (like art supplies).
HAAS Public Service Leader Project.
Received grant from UC Berkeley to fund and catalyze projects, events, and volunteers of The Karishma Project. Grant was able to fund the various care package projects.
Resource Collection.
Collecting products and resources from different communities to fill care packages with products or to redistribute supplies (like clothing and blankets) to individuals that need them the most.
Care Packages/donations to Women in India.
Started sending money and planned care packages to make and distribute around the world. Wanted to make an impact and support women survivors of acid attacks and domestic violence in India.
External Partnerships.
Team members are currently working with other non-profits to support the community in diversified ways, along with the goal of supporting other organizations doing great work!
Care Packages for the Unhoused Community.
We started creating and distributing various care packages to the unhoused community in Berkeley that are filled with essentials like food, water, snacks, and other items.
Want to Donate Specific Items?
We accept the following clothing, accessory, and equipment items.
We cannot accept used intimates like bras, underwear, and socks; and can only accept items in good and useful condition.
If you are in the Berkeley area, feel free to contact us to arrange donation drop off/pick up.
Camping Equipment | Blankets | Sleeping Bags | Sleeping Pads | Rain Gear | Shoes | Backpacks
Shirts | Jackets | Sweaters | Dresses | Skirts | Shorts | Belts | Pants
What goes in our care packages?
The contents of each care package vary depending on the communities we are aiming to deliver resources. The contents of
Contents of the care packages are usually collected through private donations, resource collection drives, resource redistribution projects, and other donations varied on occasion.
In general care packages include parts or most of the items on the following list.
Single Item Distributions
Blankets
Jackets
Sweaters
Feminine Sanitary Products
Pants
Shirts
Beanies
Gloves
Art Supplies (Like Sketchbooks & Painting Supplies)
Tarps
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Books
Care Package Contents
Granola Bars
Canned Food
Utensils
Water Bottles
Reusable Bags & Pouches
Hand Sanitizer
Masks
Gloves
Sanitizing Products/Wipes
Non-Perishable Snacks
Napkins
Cards
Various Art Supplies
Curious to see where we started?
Read about our two first projects below!
People’s Park Project & Helping our Unhoused Community Members
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As a UC Berkeley student, I have seen the turnaround of students who spend four years in this college town before moving on to their next venture. However, the unhoused community in Berkeley consists of community members that have lived here a lot longer than any student has.
Unfortunately, the University of California Berkeley is not supporting these community members in a responsible fashion which includes the proposed construction on the land currently occupied by People’s Park.
The Karishma Project seeks to use the privilege of being a student in the Berkeley community in order to redistribute the resources we have towards the individuals who need it the most.
For more events at peoples park check out the peoples park berkeley organization, an organization doing great work to uphold peoples park’s past, what is going on right now, and what we can hope to see in the future.
PCVC Project in India
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PCVC visit in Chennai 2019.
Writers Cafe visit. Writers cafe is a beautiful coffee shop/eatery that employs disenfranchised women who were victims of acid attacks and/or domestic violence.
