Sari Drive Success: More Than 4,200 Donations for ‘Sari Libraries’ Will Help Indian Women With Limited Finances

There will not be a Sari Drive in 2021.

Last year, Share & Care hosted a Sari Collection Drive to support multiple “sari libraries,” pioneered by our partner NGO Gramshree Trust (located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat), to provide saris for women with limited finances. The sari is a traditional Indian garment that is worn and admired throughout India; however, due to financial limitations, many cannot purchase saris for special occasions such as festivals and weddings. Through this unique program, women are able to borrow gently used saris and blouses at no cost! We only ask that garments are dry-cleaned before being returned to the libraries.

When we launched these efforts, we aimed to support six sari libraries in Lilapur, Punadra, Narshinpura (Viramgam), Kada, Chadotar, and Rahpura. This month, we are pleased to announce the inauguration of a seventh library, located at Vahjipura Cluster in Punadra Village. Six additional libraries are scheduled to open in 2021.

Volunteers and beneficiaries attend a sari library inauguration in Punadra Village.
Volunteers and beneficiaries attend a sari library inauguration in Punadra Village.

Sari Collection Drive: More Than 4,200 Saris Donated in 2020

Although 2020 was a challenging year, we were still able to accomplish many milestones within this program — including our overall goal to collect 2,020 saris before 2021. In fact, on October 15, 2020, we exceeded our goal with a total of 4,289 saris donated by our incredible community of Share & Care supporters! We also received 413 blouses, 101 Chaniya Choli sets, 38 petticoats, and six shawls and other accessories in addition to the saris.

We are grateful to those who donated to the sari drive last year. The drive was valued over $320,900! Although we do not have another sari drive planned in 2021, please subscribe to our email updates to receive information on many of our other programs that could use your generosity. We look forward to continuously serving those in need. Thank you for your help!

READ MORE FROM OUR PARTNERS IN THE FIELD

Name of the villages we have opened sari libraries