What we do

Three items. One clear purpose. Delivered before the rain gets worse.

Everything Rainshield does converts into three things: tarps, waterproof shoes and umbrellas — bought in bulk and distributed directly to people who need them most.

TARPS

Emergency shelter reinforcement

Heavy-duty waterproof tarpaulin sheets, sized for pavement lean-tos and settlement roofing. Distributed with basic rope and fixing kits so they can be properly secured against wind.

SHOES

Waterproof, durable footwear

Closed, waterproof footwear across common sizes for adults and children — chosen specifically to reduce prolonged foot dampness, the leading cause of monsoon fungal infection reported by outreach health workers.

UMBRELLAS

Mobility & everyday dignity

Sturdy umbrellas built to survive Mumbai's wind-driven monsoon rain, not the flimsy kind that turns inside-out on day one — letting people get to work, ration lines and clinics dry.

Where the money goes

Approximate cost per item

We buy in bulk directly from wholesalers to keep per-unit cost as low as possible. These are planning estimates, not fixed prices — actual costs vary by season and supplier.

Umbrella

₹150

A reinforced, wind-resistant umbrella — enough for one person to move through the city dry.

Tarp Sheet

₹300

One heavy-duty waterproof tarp with fixing rope, enough to reinforce a shelter roof section.

Waterproof Shoes

₹500

One pair of durable, closed waterproof shoes in adult or child sizing.

See the full breakdown and giving options on the Get Involved page.

Behind every drive

How a single drive comes together

2 weeks before

Forecast & fundraising push

We track the India Meteorological Department's monsoon outlook and time major fundraising pushes to land just ahead of forecast heavy-rain spells, when advance shelter reinforcement matters most.

1 week before

Bulk procurement

Funds raised convert into bulk orders of tarps, shoes and umbrellas from trusted wholesale suppliers, prioritising quality that will actually hold up through the season.

2–3 days before

NGO coordination

Our NGO partner's outreach workers identify the specific pavement stretches, settlement clusters and shelters with greatest need, based on their ongoing ground relationships.

Drive day

Direct distribution

Volunteers and NGO staff distribute items directly and respectfully, prioritising families with young children, elderly residents, and the most exposed shelter locations first.

After

Reporting back

We record what was distributed, roughly how many people it reached, and share an honest update with donors — including what didn't go to plan.

Beyond the three core items

What we don't yet do — and why we say so

Rainshield is intentionally narrow in scope. We don't run permanent housing programmes, large-scale medical camps, or long-term livelihood projects — those need sustained infrastructure our current size can't responsibly promise. For those needs, our NGO partner's broader programmes, and other established organisations, are better placed to help. We'd rather do three things honestly than ten things we can't sustain.