Helping Others by Packing For a Purpose

I’m always on the lookout for new ideas for ways of helping others and “Traveling with Purpose”. Sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised by where I find new material. Recently I was reading a copy of the Costco Connection member magazine and discovered an awesome non-profit organization. “Pack for a Purpose” focuses on helping others by matching travelers with organizations to deliver vital supplies to those in need around the world.

Transport Needed Supplies to Other Countries

I love the concept of helping others when I’m traveling!  I often try to leave some extra space in my luggage so I’ll have room to buy a few local keepsakes on the trip to bring home anyway. Now I can use that extra room in my suitcase to take supplies to those in need. You can travel almost anywhere in the world and deliver donated items to a variety of organizations.

This could include delivering basic medical supplies for animals in Costa Rica, children’s clothing to Istanbul, or maybe school supplies and first aid items to Rwanda. When I checked today, there were even 3 locations within the United States, so if you’re in the U.S. you don’t have to travel far to help someone in need. Current American locations are in New York City, Washington County, Maine and Forks, Washington.

The requirements aren’t overwhelming either. We’re not talking about 40 pounds of supplies. How about just 5 pounds? It really is such an easy way of helping others and giving a little back to the community in destinations that you visit. Be sure to bookmark or pin this post as a reminder for when you’re planning your next trip.

Choose From Five Different Types of Initiatives

A variety of projects allows you to choose just the initiative that matches with your passion or the area that you feel is needed most.

Over 525 Education projects are supported around the world. These projects include schools, after-school programs, and libraries.

Seventy-five different Health projects are supported. Clinics, hospitals, HIV/AIDS projects, and maternal health centers are the focus in most areas.

Child Welfare projects support over 75 orphanages and group homes for children in need.

Forty different Animal Welfare initiatives include anti-poaching projects, animal conservation, animal medical clinics, and humane societies.

Socioeconomic Development projects help local residents learn a craft or skill to bring in much-needed income. These can include basket-weaving cooperatives, sewing, and beading projects and artist initiatives.

At “Pack for a Purpose“, founders Scott and Rebecca Rothney have created a website where travelers can search for their destination from among 60 countries and find a tour company or lodging that is willing to accept the items and deliver them to those in need in the community. Once you choose a destination you’ll also find a list of the items that are most needed in that area.

And if your own funds are tight, you can ask friends if they’d like to help contribute for the supplies that you’ll be taking. You contribute by transporting the items, they win by being able to contribute to a need in a place where they may not be going themselves. We can’t all go, but sometimes we can help those who are going.

Helping Others in Need in 5 Easy Steps

1 – Select your destination.
2 – Find an accommodation or tour company and a project it supports.
3 – Choose the supplies you wish to take from the specific items requested.
4 – Drop off the supplies at the accommodation or tour company.
5 – The supplies will then be delivered to the community-based project.

What a perfect way to give back to those host cities. Another benefit is that you’ll have extra room in your suitcase to bring home the locally-produced items that you buy to help stimulate the economy there.  It’s definitely a win-win situation and sounds so easy.

Since 2010 “Pack for a Purpose” travelers have taken over 165,728 kgs (364,601 pounds) of supplies to meet essential needs in over 60 countries.

I have personally experienced the joy of delivering school supplies to children in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We bought a used suitcase at a thrift store and carried it filled with supplies. To make things easier for the rest of our trip, we left the suitcase there for the group to use. You wouldn’t believe how much help and hope even the smallest gifts can bring. Many children in other countries have a hard time getting even the most basic school supplies like pencils or paper.

For more ideas on giving back through your travels, check out my post on Wilderness Volunteers in America.

Would you consider taking a few supplies to your next destination?  Have you transported supplies to those in need? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this idea. Sounds easy, right?