About Us
About Caring Hands Foundation
Caring Hands Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in California, United States. We are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity dedicated to improving the lives of those less fortunate, both locally and abroad. We have led a multitude of projects ranging from building schools to providing resources at homeless shelters to improving access to healthcare. Locally, we primarily conduct community outreach to homeless shelters in California. Over the years, we have spearheaded global projects to conduct relief operations, construction of educational facilities, training & education in India. Recently, we have expanded our global outreach to include projects in Kenya, Haiti, and Nepal.
Caring Hands Foundation is an all volunteer-led organization. 100% of your contributions will reach intended beneficiaries.
Our Philosophy
At Caring Hands, our philosophy is encapsulated in the simple yet profound statement: “We Serve, Therefore We Are.” This foundational belief is the heartbeat of our organization, defining our commitment to making a positive impact on those in need. Through service, we define our identity and purpose. Ultimately, “We Serve, Therefore We Are” is an open invitation to create a world where service becomes a collective expression of humanity, transforming lives and communities for the better.
Our Team
Sujata Das
Sujata Das is a computer scientist in Silicon Valley. She has a strong passion for helping the underprivileged both in her local community as well as in developing countries. She has led several charitable projects over the past fifteen years and is the motivating force behind Caring Hands Foundation.
Dr. Anjalika Pattanaik
Dr. Anjalika Pattanaik is an obstetric-gynecologist at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. She uses her role in the community hospital to become an asset to the underprivileged in the community. She also runs a high school in her native village in India and is involved in social service, both in the Bay Area and abroad.
Dr. Kavitha Reddy
Dr. Kavitha Reddy is an internal medicine urgent care physician at Palo Alto Medical Foundation in Mountain View. She leads some of the global projects of Caring Hands and is committed to bringing relief to the needy in developing countries by championing their causes. Her enthusiasm is contagious.
Syamala Akkaraju
Syamala Akkaraju is a San Francisco Bay Area software professional dedicated to impactful philanthropy. She supports local homeless shelters through the Lunch Bag Service program and sponsors educational scholarships to empower students globally. Her commitment to both immediate relief and long-term educational advancement directly embodies the Caring Hands mission.
Shruti Vashisht
Shruti Vashisht is a software engineer in the Bay Area. She is from Delhi and earned a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Texas at Dallas. She is deeply passionate about helping others and making a difference in the community. Her other interests include yoga, traveling, gardening, and cooking.
Dr. Nagbhushan Veerapaneni
Dr. Nagbhushan Veerapaneni is a computer scientist from the Bay Area. An advocate for the disadvantaged, he is always willing to invest in worthy causes in order to make a better impact on society.
In memorium
Dr. Sakti Das (1939-2024)
Dr. Sakti Das was a prominent urologist and professor of urology at the University of California, Davis. A life-long humanitarian, Dr. Sakti Das traveled around the world on international medical missions from Syria to Mexico to India. He was the nurturing guide and inspiration for Caring Hands Foundation as its co-founder.
Our Key Volunteers
Lunch Bag Service Hosts
Caring Hands is incredibly grateful for our network of over 100 dedicated host families—many participating alongside their young children—who rotate schedules to prepare and deliver weekend meals to our local shelter. As a cornerstone initiative since the inception of Caring Hands, this community outreach program provides an invaluable opportunity for children to cultivate active empathy, civic responsibility, and compassion for others.
Dr. Divya Veerapaneni
Dr. Divya Veerapaneni is a Neurology resident at University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas and a talented website site designer. She generously dedicated her time to completely restructure, reorganize, and revitalize the Caring Hands website, providing it with its current modern look. Despite the rigorous demands of her residency schedule, she continues to support our mission by updating our website and assisting with digital content creation.
Nandini Jagarlamudi
Nandini Jagarlamudi is a student at the University of California, Davis, whose journey with Caring Hands began in her youth. After years of volunteering alongside her family in our Lunch Bag Service program, Nandini brought this vital initiative to her university campus, successfully establishing the Lunch Bag Service program at UC Davis. We are incredibly proud to witness our alumni translate early volunteer experiences into impactful collegiate leadership.