This Summer, Donate To Help Street Vendors Fight The Dangerous Heatwaves

When the whole world debates whether working from home is better or working from the office, there’s a group that works on the streets without so much as a complaint—the street vendors. They don’t have the luxury of choosing where to work or when to stop. From before the sun is up to long after it sets, they go on till they are no longer able to. 

And when the summer is upon them, and the suffocating heat sucks every last bit of their energy, they still show up. Because if they don’t, their children will go to bed hungry. So they work, despite the sweat dripping between their eyes; despite their clothes sticking to their skin; despite the scorching pavements.

The street vendors are the most vulnerable during heatwaves

What makes summer truly unbearable for them is that, when they’re already battling the relentless heat, they are forced to battle financial losses, too. A May 2024 study by Greenpeace India surveyed 721 street vendors, and the findings were shocking:

• Over 50% of them suffered significant income reductions in the heatwave.

• They experienced headaches, dehydration, and sunburns  due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures.

• More than half the vendors had no access to basic protective measures.

They don’t ask for much, just the bare minimum every human needs

“One summer, two years ago, I was struggling to pull my cart of plants. No buyers. No money. I suddenly didn’t have the energy to go on, and I just collapsed. An old lady stepped out of her house then, and handed me a cup of chilled buttermilk. One sip of it, and I was weeping. That was all I needed. Someone to tell me I wasn’t invisible; someone to stand by me as I worked.” - Ravi, plant vendor, Delhi

This summer can be different for them, if you support

While these vendors continue to show up despite all odds, there’s a way we can show up for them and make their summers bearable. A cup of buttermilk on a hot summer’s day, a pair of slippers between their feet and thescorching pavement, an umbrella over their head and groceries to feed their families — these simple, yet essential items can make all the difference in their daily struggles. Your donation, big or small, can give them the strength to go on. 

This summer, let’s stand with the street vendors, and show them they’re not alone. Donate now.