Frequently asked questions

All travelers can participate.

If you are not staying at a Pack for a Purpose participant accommodation or booked with a tour operator participant, please use the destination page to locate an accommodation/tour operator that will be convenient for a supply drop off on your trip.

It is your responsibility to connect with the participating accommodation/tour operator if you have questions about supplies, drop-off or the possibility of booking a tour of the community project (non-profit) they are supporting.

If you have large group that will be taking more than 50 lbs or 25 kgs of supplies, contact the accommodation/tour operator to see if they can plan to pick-up the supplies where you are staying. But remember, logistics can be complicated, so it is best to deliver the supplies yourself.

Participation is easy!

Five steps:

Pack for a Purpose is set-up for you to deliver the supplies directly to the accommodation or tour company you have selected.

This is necessary because we ensure transparency from our accommodations and tour companies by requiring them to report back to us annually with the weight of the supplies received from travelers.

We also want to ensure the supplies are delivered at a convenient time and without disruption to the community projects (non-profits). Many of which are orphanages and schools that have schedules and security requirements to protect the children and staff.

If you want to visit the community project you are giving to, you must go directly through the accommodation/tour operator office staff. They will determine on a local level whether they can accommodate your request.

Pack for a Purpose supports accommodations/tour operators who wish to provide “Buy Local” information if applicable. This information will be found on each participant’s destination page. If the participant you are taking supplies for does not have that information, we recommend you contact them directly to see what is possible.

Pack for a Purpose cares about any negative impact a visit could make to children. The accommodation or tour company will know what is allowed and best for the children and staff of schools and orphanages.

Please remember your generosity is not diminished because you do not interact with the children directly.

Visiting a local school can only be arranged by directly contacting the accommodation or tour company working with the school. Having the school day interrupted by unannounced guests, even those with the best intentions, can be very disruptive.

While sometimes having a guest speaker at a school is a wonderful opportunity for students, prearranging this is a must.

Yes!

All accommodations and tour companies that are Pack for a Purpose participants are delighted to receive requested supplies for their community-based projects. No matter where you are staying!

If you have questions regarding the logistics, you need to contact the accommodation/tour company directly. You will need to deliver the supplies yourself to the tour company or accommodation.

If you have large group that will be taking more than 50 lbs or 25 kgs of supplies, contact the accommodation/tour operator to see if they can plan to pick-up the supplies where you are staying. But remember, logistics can be complicated, so it is best to deliver the supplies yourself.

No!

While we recommend 5 lbs (2.27 kgs), travelers can take whatever they can handle.

We require that you stick to the requested supply list that each accommodation/tour operator participant has listed.

Each category has its own specific instructions to minimize the space required in your luggage and protect the items. For details, please visit our How To Pack page.

We do not. The mission of Pack for a Purpose is to assist travelers to take useful and impactful supplies for community projects around the globe. Providing volunteer opportunities for travelers is beyond the scope of our mission. If you wish to volunteer at one of the projects supported by our participants, you will need to contact them directly through their website.

It is not our mission to arrange to ship supplies to destinations. Additionally, there is no guarantee that shipped supplies will reach the intended project.

No, we do not provide customs advice as we have over 60 countries participating. We do not have the ability to issue waivers regarding duties. Also note, shipments sent directly to a community project via shipping from the U.S., the non-profit can experience duty fees from customs before receiving the supplies sent. We discourage this practice for this reason.

For tax purposes, travelers taking supplies should keep their receipts from the store where they purchased the supplies and take the deduction as a non-cash contribution. Our 501c3 number:84-1798066. This only applies to citizens in the United States.

When you take your selected supplies, you can drop them at your accommodation or with your tour company knowing they will be delivered directly to the project. The lists have been well-researched and unrequested items, even with the best of intentions, are largely inappropriate for the communities and are likely to have few short-term and no long-term benefits.

Check with your travel advisor or airline to determine the current luggage allowance to your destination.

For Custom rules and regulations, check with the Embassy from the country you plan to visit. Or you can check with the specific accommodation/tour company that you plan to stay at or use. They should be aware of the current rules at the specific time you are traveling.

Some participants may provide an option to buy supplies locally. This information will be posted on their individual page. We support buying locally whenever possible.

To save space, take the items out of their original packaging and place in the lightest paper or fabric resealable bags. Many countries have now banned plastic bags (even reusable).

The following items should be kept in their original packaging: crayons, chalk, and colored pencils. Plastic and wooden rulers should be wrapped in bubble wrap to prevent breaking. Games should be left in their original packages.

Be sure to check the Customs regulations of the country you are visiting if you plan to take any requested medications. Some over-the-counter medications are not allowed. Any medicines that you take should have an expiration date at least eight months after the time you are taking them.

Expensive items such as stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, etc., should be put in plastic or fabric resealable bags and packed in your carry-on luggage.

The following new items should be taken out of their original packaging and placed in the lightest possible paper or fabric resealable bags: Band-Aids, bandages and any other items where the weight would be reduced by eliminating the original packaging. Many countries have now banned plastic bags (even reusable).

Soccer balls should be deflated by moistening an inflation needle and carefully inserting it into the valve. After the needle is inserted, gently apply pressure to the ball until it is deflated. Remove the needle and tape it to the deflated ball. The deflated balls can be stacked to save space. Each deflated soccer ball will weigh about 1 lb (0.45 kg).

Pro Tip: Pack all supply items so they can be easily located and removed from your luggage upon arrival and make drop-off one of the first things you do a when you are arriving at your destination.