ABROAD & BEYOND

Travel with intention takes on new meaning with Pack for a Purpose by Travel Elevates, a global initiative that turns a little extra luggage space into life-changing support for local communities. The program helps travelers deliver essential supplies—from malaria test kits in the Solomon Islands to baby care items for families in Maui. What began as a simple idea has grown into a movement grounded in gratitude. Seventeen years in, Pack for a Purpose is proving that even the smallest gesture can leave a lasting impact on the people and places we visit.

480,226
Pounds of essential supplies, in total, that Pack for a Purpose travelers have taken to 60 countries.

8,400
Suitcases travelers packed in 2024 with some 21 tons of essential supplies—equivalent to the entire weight of a commercial jet.

2010
Year emeritus founder and longtime schoolteacher Rebecca Rothney started Pack for a Purpose. Now under the Travel Elevates umbrella, it’s experiencing tremendous growth.

220+
Hotels and tour operators throughout the world that support Pack for a Purpose.

10
Regions—from Africa to Asia, South America to the Caribbean—that feature multiple Pack for a Purpose projects supported by accommodations and tour companies.

17
Countries in the Caribbean alone that provide Pack for a Purpose projects.

1
Pound a deflated soccer ball weighs for easy, light packing. Soccer balls are a highly requested need throughout many Pack for a Purpose projects.

Zilch
Limit to the amount of supplies that can be packed. While an easy five pounds are recommended, travelers are welcome to take as much as they can handle.