By now we’ve all been through the Black Friday sales and our holiday shopping lists are starting to come together. However, if you are planning some international travel over the holidays this year, it’s a great time to consider giving back to the communities that live in your vacation destination. An organization called Pack for a Purpose works with hotels around the globe that have pledged to support local schools or healthcare projects. You simply go to the website, pick your destination and the hotel that you are staying at, and decide what you can contribute from the list of requested supplies. Pack for a Purpose even gives you tips on how to pack the items most efficiently to maximize space in your luggage. Once you arrive in destination, just drop your donation off at your hotel.
The idea here is that if every traveler used just 5lbs of their luggage allowance to bring some useful supplies such as pencils, band-aids, and various other items; they could make a big impact to the communities of people that make the destination so special. It’s really a no brainer. You likely already keep about 5lbs of your luggage allowance free for any souvenirs your pick up during your trip.
Of course, this opportunity isn’t limited just to holiday travel. So you can choose to make a big impact during your vacation any time of the year. I plan to pack for a purpose on my upcoming trip to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
In future posts, I would love to discuss other ways that travelers can give back to the communities that they visit. This is something that is very near and dear to me. Not only does giving back enrich the places you travel, but it enriches your vacation experience as well.
