Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Pack For A Purpose Re-visited


Barbara: Deb and I thought that today’s short post could be a little re-call of our amazing trip to Costa Rica and our discovery of the wonderful charitable organization, Pack for a Purpose. We discovered Pack for a Purpose thanks to the organizers of our trip (Costa Rica Gift of Happiness) and were just so impressed with the idea of bringing useful gifts to your host country that we jumped at the chance to participate. The Pack for a Purpose site easily outlines what might be most needed in your destination country, whether it is school supplies or medical essentials, and how to drop them off. You might remember that we decided to bring soccer balls and school supplies and to donate them to the Maleku tribe.

Pack for a Purpose founder, Rebecca Rothney, asked us to write a short piece about our experience, which we happily did. Now we feel that linking to the story (it is the second on the page) is a great reminder of a wonderful cause, as well as giving us all another opportunity to talk about efforts like this and how we can best share our resources with people around the world. If you have any thoughts or ideas, we’d love to hear them.


26 comments:

  1. Wow Girls...The story is AWESOME....I mean DUH! you WROTE IT !! I really really appreciated the "pack for a purpose" organization and what they do...Its amazing....

    You know me I believe in emotional upliftment....I am more of a "I wouldn't give a hungry guy a fish...I'd rather teach him FISHING...so he becomes independent" But Yeah I do love to see smiles on people faces....Its a wonderful thing to help educate someone...and get them the basics they need...But I still think we should uplift them emotionally... any wonderful help in form of supplies will only help if the person is emotionally strong and willing to be strong....I think the best thing we can do is help them BELIEVE in themselves again.....By believing in their potential,well-being and KNOWING...that 'anything your mind can conceive, IT CAN ACHIEVE'!!! and Hoping that one day we wont need to help them...THEY'LL HELP THEMSELVES !!!

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  2. Actually, it's interesting you wrote this, Shalaka, because I can honestly say that these people are as independent as can be. They certainly didn't ask for supplies or imply they needed them. Deb and I found a huge amount of pride and resourcefulness and positive spirit in Costa Rica -- which is why we began to re-think our approach to this kind of giving as being a thank you gift from the heart to our gracious hosts, as opposed to "donations" for those who "needed" it. And this is how it seems to be received.

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    1. Exactly...They ATTRACTED that...!!! I could feel their independence in the pix....You see that is a different kind of giving !!! You guys were there you got to know them so well....and THANKED them with a wonderful gesture!!
      and indirectly you guys acknowledged their well-being...and that thrived in the brilliance of it yourselves !! :)

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  3. What a fantastic charity, i'd never heard of it. Makes me wish I was travelling somewhere this year!! My favourite charity is kiva.org, you go to the website and lend money to people in third world countries so they can start up their own business. They pay it back when they can, and then you can re-lend the money to someone else. I love the idea because the money can end up empowering so many people.

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    1. Oh, thanks, Samara, for adding kiva to the list! They are amazing. Kate (our Stubblejumpin' gal) introduced me to them through her blog. Such a smart set-up.

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    2. I love it, too. You get to choose who to lend to and what kind of business you want to support. Also, since I built it into my monthly giving, on or near the first of each month I make a loan, like clockwork, otherwise I'd forget. After the first year or so, because the borrowers have been paying back their loans, I can re-loan without dipping into my bank account again, most months. Which is nice for those of us who only work part-time and aren't big spenders or big lenders.

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  4. Absolutely lovely. What an amazing organization. I remember your posts about Costa Rica and the tribe. When I was in elementary, middle, and high school, each year the students and teachers would donate things, like school supplies, toys, toothpaste, hairbrushes, etc. Then some of the students and teachers would volunteer their time to take shoe boxes and fill them up with the supplies. Then we wrapped the boxes (for Christmas) and they would be sent to children around the world. It was a way to make sure these children had something to open for Christmas and that they were getting the things that they needed. I really loved having the opportunity to do that every year.

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    1. And what a great opportunity for teaching compassion to young children!

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  5. I almost forgot: right now the university that I attend is doing this thing were you vow to go bare foot for 24 hours. They are taking shoe donations too, that will go to many places around the world. Just amazing.

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    1. Oh, this is great! PS in a completely unrelated story: I've been reading A LOT lately about the benefits to going barefoot. Apparently it is an important way to re-calibrate the brain synapses as the feet make contact with the ground. Also it's supposed to be better for your body's alignment. Some people even swear by jogging barefoot! (or at least with those thin skin things on their feet)

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    2. I jog barefoot! It's great and I have no damage from it or anything. It works out a slightly different part of your leg muscles and is supposed to be easier on your knees.

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  6. Steph, they're doing it here too. It's sponsored by TOMS shoes and I think it's called "One Day Without Shoes". I love TOMS and everything they stand for!

    What a great idea, Pack for a Purpose. My mom and a teacher friend of hers is trying to do something similar to that at the school where she teaches...we live in a pretty low-income area and some of the kids literally have next to nothing. It makes my heart smile to see so many people go out and just give what they can. :)

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    1. Let us know if they get it started, Holly. And PS belated happy birthday!!!! xoxo

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  7. SHOOT...I FORGOT !! KELLY BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...Hope you had fun.... BIG HUG AND LOTS OF LOVE !!!

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    1. OH and HOLLY !!! :P forgot you are twins :D XD !!xoxo

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    2. Thanks Barb and Shalaka!!! ^__^

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  8. This is making me wonder what I could bring from Saskatchewan to Toronto that you easterners don't have ... um, saskatoon jam?

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    1. Mmm saskatoon jam sounds good (...unless it isn't...).

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  9. My mom is working on something similar with a family friend. I think it's great what ya'll are doing! Keep up the good work!!! :]

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  10. Loved that journey.

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  11. Always proud to know people who do so much for others, God bless you ladies! HAPPY BIRTHDAY To Kelly and Holly and any other April babies!

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    1. ^_____^

      April birthdays are pretty smashing!

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