MHS Senior Spearhead Survivors United

Manhasset High School senior Curran Varma saw a problem and decided to do something about it. He founded a nonprofit organization called “Survivors United,” which raises funds for survival kits for the homeless. The kits include a toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, water bottle, two pairs of socks, a comb, six cough drops, a nail cutter, a Survivors United shirt and a letter of encouragement/inspiration.
When asked why he wanted to take on such a monumental problem, Varma replied, “It’s very important to me that I make an impact on the world, so one day I was thinking how I could make a positive change and the idea simply hit me. After, I consulted with several others who also liked the idea, I decided to do it.”
When asked how he started the effort Varma said, “I made a sincere effort to gather as much as I could from friends and family, which turned out to be just enough. After doing this, I placed the order for all the ingredients of the kit. Once they arrived I spent countless hours working until the morning to assemble them on my own in the basement—one night my friend Ahmad Chaudhry assisted me.” At their first event, Survivors United distributed over 100 kits at a home coalition at 108 East 51st St. between Park and Lexington Avenues.
Varma anticipates doing this every two to three months depending on fundraising. The kits would also be different each time. The women at the coalition recommended hats, gloves and a gift card for coffee. “Survivors United’s purpose is to make life more comfortable for the homeless, so each variation of the kit will be a creative approach to doing just that. However, if we can one day go as far as to give them the push to getting back on their feet, such as giving them proper attire to go to an interview, that would be great,” he said.
To donate to Survivors United, visit facebook.com/surviveandconqeur and click on the PayPal link.