Improving the Lives of Children Five Pounds at a Time
Pack for a Purpose is a simple concept that makes a big impact on the lives of children around the world. Getting involved is easy. The organization is dedicated to providing information so individual travelers can bring needed educational materials and medical supplies to children in the communities they are visiting.
World travelers and entrepreneurs Rebecca and Scott Rothney with the help of several friends launched the website www.packforapurpose.org in December 2009. The organization was founded on the principal that every little bit helps and all it takes to get involved is to use a small amount space in your luggage for supplies when packing for a trip abroad.
When travelers visit the site they follow four simple steps. The first step is to select their destination. They then find their lodging which lists the sponsored community project and the needed supplies. Next they choose which supplies they wish to bring with them. 5 pounds is recommended. Last they pack them in their luggage and deliver them when they arrive at their lodging. Each listing on the Pack for a Purpose Web site has been contacted about the program, provided the needs list, has agreed to participate and will eagerly welcome all contributions from travelers.
“Five pounds can be as much as 400 pencils or five deflated soccer balls,” said Rebecca Rothney. “The first time we took supplies, we visited a local school in Botswana and the kids were playing soccer with a ball of rags tied together with string. It’s startling to see just how little some of the schools and clinics have to work with. I believe we can all find a little space in our luggage for a bag of supplies. If enough people make small contributions, we have the potential to make an enormous positive impact.
One of the first contacts Rothney established for the program was Michelle Puddu of Wilderness Safaris in South Africa. Rothney and her husband had personally worked with Puddu to bring many hundreds of pounds of school supplies to South Africa and Botswana over the course of several different trips.
“The idea is a brilliant one – it costs almost nothing on the part of the donor, just a great deal of kindness and a small amount of effort,” Puddu said. “This is the type of goodwill that nobody really thinks about, but makes a big difference.”
“As word spreads and more travelers participate, we have the potential to deliver several tons of needed supplies each year directly to the people who need them.” Rothney said. “Everyone wants to make a difference, vacation travelers, honeymooners and business travelers, and the Pack for a Purpose website will make it easy to contribute in a meaningful way.”
For Non-government Organizations
Lodgings, resorts and hotels provide us with information about the service projects they support, including a list of supplies they need. This information is then posted on our website. It is used to inform travelers about opportunities to assist the communities they visit by packing up to five pounds (2.2 kilos) of requested supplies in their luggage. Travelers then leave the supplies at the lodging, to be delivered to the sponsored community project.
There is no cost to participate, and the benefits are limitless! It only takes a few minutes to go to the “Contact” page on our website, enter in the necessary information in the “To Submit A Lodging” form, and become part of the Pack for a Purpose® network (http://www.packforapurpose.org/docs/contact.shtml). Not only will you receive free publicity for your property, but you will inform travelers about supplies needed to support your worthwhile projects.
For more information, please feel free to explore our website, http://www.packforapurpose.org/. All of the destinations that we are affiliated with to date are posted there, and are valued partners in their communities. We have received news and editorial coverage in a number of media, including ABCNews.com (http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/pack-purpose-helps-needy-africa/story?id=9744358&page=1), the International Ecotourism Society (http://www.yourtravelchoice.org/2010/03/making-a-difference-five-pounds-at-a-time/) and page 37 of Virgin Blue’s May 2010 in-flight magazine (http://voyeur.realviewtechnologies.com/?iid=35082). To see additional coverage, please visit the “News” page on our website (http://www.packforapurpose.org/docs/news.shtml).
We hope you will choose to become part of the Pack for a Purpose® network of projects and destinations. Doing so will not only enhance your web presence, but most importantly will benefit the worthwhile projects you support in your local communities!
Should you have any questions, please contact me at info.packforapurpose@gmail.com.
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