My name is Eli Cheikka, and I am a 15-year-old student from San Diego who believes that small acts of kindness can create real change. Even with a busy school schedule, I wanted to build something meaningful that I could work on in my free time. I care deeply about people experiencing homelessness, and I wanted to do something hands-on to help. That is what inspired me to start this project.

The OpenHands Project is a youth-led community effort dedicated to supporting people who are experiencing homelessness. Our mission is simple: open hands helping open hearts. We create and distribute care kits filled with essentials such as hygiene items, snacks, and comfort supplies. Every kit is assembled with respect and intention because everyone deserves to feel supported and valued. This project is just beginning, but the goal is to make giving easy, to spread kindness, and to inspire other teens to help their communities in any way they can.

Another way to donate to us is by buying any of the items from this list and shipping it to 12628 Caminito Destello, San Diego, California 92130