Vacation Rentals in Cartagena - Pack for a Purpose

Want to support one of these Cartagena projects but not staying in our accommodations? We would be happy to connect you directly with an organization representative to arrange a drop off/pick up of your donations. Please email us at info@vacationrentalscartagena.com if you would like to donate supplies for one of our projects but are not staying with us.

Many of the items on the wish lists can be bought locally. If you will be traveling prior to arriving in Cartagena and/or prefer to pack light, consider purchasing items from this wish list in Cartagena. Muchísimas gracias!

Project #1

Pescador de Letras Foundation helps approximately 120 underprivileged children from ages 5 through 12 mainly in the impoverished La Boquilla area of Cartagena by providing them with education and support so that they will have a better future. This support includes education, recreational activities, food, as well as medical, psychological, and social support.

Project #2

Cartagena Paws works to improve the lives of animals in Cartagena and change the culture of animal abuse and neglect present in and around the city. They do this by: rescuing, rehabilitating & providing safe homes for street animals; educating the community; and operating capture, spay/neuter, vaccinate, and release programs. Cartagena Paws is also working towards setting up an educational-based animal rescue center which would be the first of its kind on Colombia’s coast.

Project #3

Foundation Amigos del Mar is based on the island of Tierrabomba, only a couple of miles from Cartagena’s wealthy Old City but worlds away in terms of the standard of living. The foundation works to improve the quality of life of island children and the elderly through sustainable art projects, literacy workshops, culture, and water sports. They support the community as a whole by sponsoring trash clean-ups, spay/neuter clinics for pets, personal hygiene workshops, and more.

An asterisk (*) before an item indicates this item is most urgently needed.

Needs

General School Supplies:
*Book Bags, Chalk, College-Ruled Paper, *Colored Construction Paper, *Colored Pencils, Compasses, *Crayons, *Dry-Erase Markers, *Erasers, *Glue Sticks, *Handheld Pencil Sharpeners, *Markers, *Pencils, Pencil Cases/Bags, *Pens, Protractors, *Rulers, Solar Calculators, Solar Lantern Lights, and Wide-Ruled Paper

Reference Materials:
(English and Spanish) *Dictionaries and Age Appropriate Encyclopedias on CD

Flash Cards:
(English and Spanish) *Alphabet, Math, and Word

Laminated Wall Charts:
(English and Spanish) *Human Body, *Language, Math, Science, and *World Maps

Text/Reading Books:
(English and Spanish) Age-Appropriate Story Books, *Language/Grammar, (Spanish Only)Biology, General Science, and Health & Math

Hesperian Health Guides:
(English and Spanish) *Where There Is No Doctor, Where There Is No Dentist, Disabled Village Children, Helping Children Who Are Blind, *Helping Children Who Are Deaf, Community Guide to Environmental Health, and HIV Health and Your Community (Only Available in English)

Art Supplies:
*Acrylic Paints and Brushes, Beads for Bead Work, Buttons, *Craft Glue and Scissors, Earring Hooks, Gage Wire, *Sewing Needles, Thread, *Watercolor Paints and Brushes, and Wire Cutters

Computer Hardware/Software:
*Flash Drives/Memory Sticks, Mobile Phones, *Solar-Powered Working Laptops, *Tablets, *USB Cables, and *Working Laptops

Educational Games/Toys:
Bananagrams, Chess Sets, Connect Four, Puzzles, Scrabble, and Stuffed Animals/Soft Toys

Music Instruments:
Castanets, Cymbals, Guiros, *Harmonicas/Kazoos, Maracas, *Recorders, Tambourines, Triangles, and Xylophones

Sports/Outdoor Activity:
Children/Teen Size Rash Guards (for Surfing), Frisbees, Inflation Pumps, *Jump Ropes, Netball/Basketballs, Soccer Balls, *Team Uniforms/Kits for Soccer, Tennis Balls, Whistles, and Wax & Fins for Surfboards

Clothing/Shoes:
*New or Gently Used Children’s Clothing and Shoes, *New Children’s/Teens Swimsuits/Swimming Trunks, *New Bras and Underwear (any Age), and *New or Gently Used Adult Clothing and Shoes

First Aid/Health:
Antibiotic Ointment, *Band-Aids, Combs, Deodorant, *Hairbrushes, Hair Pins and Bands, Hand Cream, *Latex Gloves, *Multivitamin Tablets, Reading Glasses (Assorted Strengths), Sanitary Napkins, Shampoo, *Soap, Tampons, *Toothbrushes, *Toothpaste, and Vaseline

Kitchen:
*Bowls, *Pans, *Plastic Serving Bowls, Cups, and Plates, Pots, *Serving Spoons, and Spatulas

Linens:
Bath Towels, Bed Linens, Light Blankets, Linen Sets, Mosquito Nets, and Pillows

Gardening:
Books about Gardening, Cloth Caddy for Small Tools, Gardening Gloves, Hand Fork, Small Pruning Shears, Spades, and Trowel

Stories

Initiatives Supported

Education Animal Welfare Senior Welfare

All the needs are current as of March 15, 2023

Note: Location is approximated. If you see a lodging that is misplaced or missing, please contact us .

Listed on this page are the specific needs requested by the community project(s) so you can choose exactly what to pack for a purpose and express your gratitude to the local community with the supplies you take them. If you prefer, you may reach out directly to them to inquire about items which may be available for purchase locally. Arranging visits to community projects is beyond the scope of our mission. If you wish to visit a project, contact the participant and they can let you know what is possible.

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Candy and balloons are not on the needs list as they are harmful for the children and the environment for the following reasons:
• Few of the children benefiting from these projects have access to toothpaste, toothbrushes, or a dentist. The candy promotes cavities.
• The balloons once they become deflated are a choking hazard for local wildlife.

Instead of taking candy or balloons, use that space for additional requested supplies, as they are priceless.

How to Pack

Map/Directions