We recently connected with Rebecca Rothney and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Rebecca thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The idea for Pack for a Purpose evolved from my travels in Africa with my husband Scott. On our second trip we had the opportunity to visit an elementary school. Working with Wilderness Safaris to find out what supplies were most needed, we took 140 pounds of supplies to the children at the school. Seeing the students playing with the first soccer ball the school had ever had, and watching the principal’s joy at receiving the first rulers was a powerful experience for us. I had been a teacher for over a decade and found it very hard to have enough supplies for my own students in North Carolina. Over several more trips with friends and by ourselves, we managed to take more than 2000 additional pounds of supplies. On our trip to Kenya, I asked my travel agent in the states, “Why don’t all your guests use the extra space in their luggage for this?” “Because they don’t think about it” was his reply. That was my aha moment.

I knew that taking large amounts of supplies required a great deal of time and close logistical cooperation with the touring company. So, I felt I needed to come up with a simpler and more direct way for travelers to take supplies where they were going. By asking travelers to pack 5 pounds (2.27 kgs.) of supplies, everyday travelers could easily get involved without the need for logistical support. That amount would take only a small space, require little effort, and still make a big impact.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Having traveled extensively, I believe there is need everywhere in the world; however, it is sometimes difficult to identify specific needs in places far from home. I believe many people fortunate enough to travel wish they could make meaningful contributions to help meet the needs of the places they visit. Such contributions are one way of expressing appreciation for the experiences and hospitality they enjoyed. Pack for a Purpose (PfaP) was created to assist travelers who want to say thank you in this manner or who simply want to expand their generosity beyond their own communities. The supply lists for destinations on our website are provided directly by the local community-based projects that receive and use the supplies, enabling travelers to make informed decisions and to take items that meet the needs of those who will be using them. In essence, our website acts like a Lego- connecting travelers with community projects at their destinations, so they can choose to be impactful travelers. I believe when you Pack for a Purpose, your trip will start and end with gratitude. Our website provides all of the information a traveler needs to make the trip they take go farther than the miles they travel.

I have been thrilled that travelers of all ages, genders and origins have chosen to Pack for a Purpose, bringing over 204,396 kgs (450,616 pounds) of supplies meeting essential needs in over 55 countries. Travelers have packed for a purpose on destination weddings, honeymoons, business conferences, family trips, and for Eagle Scout projects. It is successful because everyone can choose to be gracious.

When I founded PfaP fifteen years ago, I never thought of the initiative as a charity. For me, it was, and is, about providing travelers with the information they need to take the perfect hostess gift for the community they are visiting. Gratitude and graciousness pack easily. They take up no space but expand exponentially once delivered at a destination. My mother, like many mothers, taught me that you always take a hostess gift when you are invited to enjoy somebody’s hospitality, whether it is a meal or a weekend visit. The person’s economic status is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is making sure the gift will be meaningful to the hostess. The enhancement for PfaP travelers is in knowing that not only are they taking the perfect hostess gift to express their gratitude to a community, but that the supplies they take benefit those in need. Whether the supplies are for a school, an animal shelter, an anti-poaching project, or a clinic, they make a Big Impact in the community.

I took my first overseas trip with my parents at age 11 and never looked back. I have since visited 50 countries and all 7 continents. My husband and I were married in Antarctica 25 years ago. After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1971 with a BA in English, I began my first career as a middle school teacher of European and non-western cultures. At 40 I started my second career as an entrepreneur with the founding of RHCreations Inc., a boutique manufacturer of cuff links made from authentic postage stamps and images from my travels around the world. My cuff links were sold at Nordstrom and Harrods (in London), online at Cufflinks Depot, among others.

For over 32 years I have hosted visitors from around the world as a member of the International Affairs Council, which is now called International Focus, in Raleigh, North Carolina. I’ve had the joy of hosting over 500 people from six continents. These evenings are filled with information directly from the source and usually laughter. I served on the board of directors of the International Affairs Council for 12 years. I was the first woman president of the Cary Toastmasters Club, and co-president of the Cary Women’s Business Owners Network. I am also a docent at the North Carolina Museum of Art, where I have guided tours for over 32 years.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

I have always managed my team of volunteers and college interns as a meritocracy. If you surround yourself with intelligent, creative, talented people then it is in you and the organization’s best interest to listen carefully to their ideas and adopt the most effective. Ego has no place in effective management. Positive recognition of contributions, I believe, is also a key part to an effective and successful team. Lastly, I am famous for my homemade, hot, out-of-the-oven chocolate mint chip cookies, which I serve on demand to my interns and volunteers. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeeZL5tVZU0

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

We use social media, as well as following up by email with all travelers who have specifically reached out to us. We encourage PfaP travelers to submit stories and blogs ( https://www.packforapurpose.org/stories-from-travelers-and-communities/ ) which we feature on the homepage of our website and across our social media. We also send out a newsletter every 2 months. The amount of international editorial we have received has certainly promoted our credibility and the longevity of our brand. ( https://www.packforapurpose.org/in-the-news/ )

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.packforapurpose.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packforapurpose/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PackforaPurpose
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pack-for-a-purpose/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/packforapurpose
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PackforaPurpose
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@packforapurpose?

Image Credits
These photos were taken by the travelers themselves and sent to us.