Impact
9 Countries
29 cities
53,000 masks donated
50 oxygen concentrators
4500 face shields
46,000 lives touched
Raised $ 30,000
United States
1600 hand sewed face masks
36,000 face masks
Ukraine
48 Vent Compact Chest Seal
India
50 Oxygen Concentrator
10,000 masks
Philippines
4345 disposable facemasks
328 face shields
Jamaica
2000 disposable facemasks
Canada
200 reusable facemasks
Egypt
4700 disposable facemasks
Brazil
600 reusable facemasks
Indonesia
2000 disposable masks
Inspiration
As the Bay Area and U.S. COVID-19 cases rose, Meha Gaba, a high school freshman, felt the need to step up and do something positive for the community, specifically for health care workers and essential personnel. With daily news reporting the shortage of protective gear and medical supplies she thought of helping out by creating protective masks for the front line soldiers. Even sewing and cutting fabric at home can make a difference through Ayuda, as our face masks keep our community safe and healthy. That started the movment and many joined hands. After 2 years Ayuda has touched more than 30,000 lives in 7 counties and helped them keep safe and healthy during the covid crisis.
Humanitarian & Disaster Response
Ayuda's News, Grants and Awards
News Coverage
Daily Point of Light News Coverage
American Teens Donate PPE
India West Coverage
Evergreen Times coverage
Earthquakers Covergae
Bolly 92l.3 FM Coverage
City Of San Jose Mayor Commendation Award 2020
Presidential Service Gold Award 2019,2020
2020 Community Hero Award - Assembly Member Kansen Chu
Certificate Of Commendation-US Senator Diane Feinstein
Daily Point Of Light Award
Certificate Of Recognition - District 8 Councilwomen
Certificate Of Recognition -CA State Senator Dave Cortese
Grant Coverage
Neighborhood Hero Grant 2020
SJ EarthQuakes in collaboration with Wells Fargo interviewed Meha and granted $274 to Ayuda to be used for Community Service
Power of Youth Challenge Grant
Project “Ayuda-Keeping Communities Safe” was selected to be part of the Power of Youth Challenge Year 2 and is awarded with a mini grant of $1200 from America’s Promise Alliance during 2020 and 2021 grant period.
Hershey Heartwarming Action Grant
Received $500 Visa gift card for putting Ayuda's ideas into action and create a more inclusive, kind empathetic and empathetic community in 2021 and 2022. Thanks Heartwarming Project to support us!
Costco Grant
Ayuda received $100 in Costco grants for supporting our mask distribution in July 2020.
Award Coverage
Team Ayuda
Meha Gaba
Founder and President
Meha Gaba founded Ayuda as a ninth grader at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley in March 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak inspired her to do something with all her extra time and help out the community constantly working with sick patients. Since resources such as face masks were running low for thousands of doctors, nurses and essential workers she took it upon herself to sew masks at home. This brought upon Ayuda's creation, and since, we have donated thousands of masks in many cities and countries. Meha believes access to safe and healthy environment is basic human right.
Our volunteer team consists of kids from elementary to high school, moms to grandparents. It's heartfelt to see our community come together to build a strong bond in order to keep everybody safe and healthy.
Adya Dutt
President, Toronto, Canada
Adya is currently a Junior at Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School, Milton, Ontario, Canada.
Encouraged by Ayuda's efforts, Adya has produced masks for hospitals in her community. Through her passion for sustainability, Adya has helped to raise awareness about the devastating effects of improper PPE disposal on the environment. In her school community, Adya has designed and distributed mask cutters to minimize the entanglement of sea creatures and birds.
Sanjana Ryali
President, Valley Christian High School
Sanjana Ryali is a ninth grader at Valley Christian High School. She was inspired by Ayuda's response to the COVID-19 crisis, and made masks for donation. She is passionate about volunteering and hopes to benefit the local community through her efforts.
Eshaan Shanbhag
President, California High School
Eshaan Shanbhag is a tenth grader at California High School. He was motivated by Ayuda's efforts and made masks to donate to local hospitals and shelters. He has passion for volunteering, and will continue to serve and help the local community in future Ayuda efforts.
Preeti
President, NCR India
Preeti has selflessly supported Ayuda's efforts in India. When a call came from RobinhoodArmy for disposable masks, Preeti took over the initiative of procuring the masks and shipping them to all 20 locations. Her efforts made Ayuda reach rural communities in Northern India.
Parth
President, Valley Christian junior High
Parth took the lead during the initial days of the pandemic to cut and pack homemade masks. He has contributed his effort in making over 500 masks. He has also taken initiative in donating school supplies to Obwhaley Elementary School as well as supporting CalFire firefighters during the 2020 wildfire season.
Kiran Bedi
During COVID's initial days, Kiran took it upon herself to help the community and contributed to Ayuda's efforts by stitching and donating masks for weeks. Since then she has supported Ayuda's causes and effortlessly helped whenever we needed guidance and help.
Emely Agustin
Emely Agustin is School Principal I at Sta. Isabel Elementary School, Dinalupihan, Bataan, Philippines. Emely collaborated with Joy of Nor-cal sharing and Ayuda foundation to support the donation of face masks and shields. This lead to helping 402 students.
Jayzel Anne Mirador
Jayzel Anne Mirador Molano teaches at Bamban Norte Elementary School. Jayzel worked with Ayuda and Joy of sharing Nor-cal tirelessly to procure and distribute facemasks and shields at her school.
Joy Mirador-Barrozo
Joy worked with Meha for over 6 months for envisioning and executing Philippines effort. Despite of her busy schedule at work, she tirelessly helped contact schools in Philippines which let Ayuda's Philippines effort.
Ahmed Osama Albakry
Ahmed resident of Cairo Egypt leads mask donation effort for Ayuda across Egypt. He graduated from Veterinary medicine Benha University and has a passion for health and safety. He works as a regional food safety auditor.
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Aaron Wahid
Aaron is currently a senior attending Jakarta Intercultural School. Ayuda collaborated with him and his organization Aksi Peduli Berbagi Indonesia (APBI) to donate thousands of masks in rural Indonesia. APBI was designed as an interactive platform to connect hundreds of donors with the underprivileged to provide urgent food and medicine during COVID, similar to Ayuda's mask supply relief efforts. He says, "Although my experiences have been limited to helping communities throughout Indonesia, I hope to soon expand my influence as a social entrepreneur and changemaker through my collaboration with Ayuda."
Testimonials
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Thank you for reaching out to us - we appreciate your generosity!
Priyanka, RobinhoodArmy , India
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Thanks for taking this amazing initiative. We will be blessed to be a part of distribution process. Abhinandan, RobinhoodArmy , India
What an incredibly kind, thoughtful, and helpful idea.
Matthew Archambault, BISV
Thank you for the incredible support and the very nice facemask that Meha made. Your kindness is appreciated.
Carla Woods, BISV
Smaritan Health
Kaiser Permanente
These nurses are so very grateful!!!!! They are actively treating COVID patients and very much appreciate the support!!! We sent a mix of masks and hats so some of these are from your family! Thank you!!!
Camp Tylor, Serving CHD patients
Proud owner of 3 different masks. Masks are very comfortable and expands easily to cover the nose and mouth. Washing the mask is easy and it dries overnight so I can wear it again the next day. Thank you!
JEANETTE MOSLEY, CFO, Presidian
SUPER cute & well made! Very comfortable and they provide great coverage!
Erica McGhee, GM,Hampton Inn
love the black with little flowers mask I received. I wish I could have chosen more as the patterns were so pretty. The mask is well made and comfortable to wear on the ears.
Jennifer Cronin, Presidian Destination
Camp Taylor
Miss Ann, Bytes & Notes
Partners
Distribution Partners in India
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Santa Clara, CA
Kaiser Permanente, Fremont, CA
Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, Las Vegas, NV
Nutrition therapy Essentials, San Jose, CA
Samaritan Health, NY
Homeless Shelter, Milpitas, CA
BISV
Holiday Inn-Express Dripping Springs, TX
San Jose Gurudwara
Camp Taylor (Helping pediatric Heart patients)
Trinethra Groceries
San Jose
University Medical Center Las Vegas, NV
Aksi Peduli Berbagi Indonesia
Get Involved
Volunteer Your Time
Ayuda is a PVSA Certifying Organization
Make A Mask
This is one of the simplest ways to help out our cause. Picking up a sewing machine and attending a workshop is all you need to get started. This is an easy way to contribute to the great work we do at Ayuda. Get in touch with any questions about how you can volunteer your time today.