The inspiration for Packed with Purpose came from the core purpose of Luggage Pros, "To provide products and resources that enrich and simplify people's lives." Specifically, Packed with Purpose seeks to bring extra and gently used bags to people in need throughout the world. Whether it's helping under privileged individuals in local communities or supporting relief efforts in countries that have been ravaged by war or natural disaster, Packed with Purpose is committed to bringing about a positive change to the quality of life of those most in need.
Over the years, Luggage Pros has formed countless valuable relationships with our customers and we knew there was a way to leverage the kindness and compassion of this community for a greater good. With so many people in need of assistance, Packed with Purpose aims to help others by utilizing our resources to identify gently used luggage and bags, customers that share our desire to help those that are less fortunate, and organizations that need bags and suitcases to carry out their mission of providing life-changing aid and support to people in need.
Luggage Pros first stepped up and donated over 100 bags to Bags for Bosnia, and discovered a new understanding for the positive impact used, functional bags made to individuals in despair. Now, with Packed with Purpose, we are looking to ramp up our efforts to help those in need and invite you to join us on this journey.
Purchase one of over 300 eligible bags from Luggage Pros, and we'll send you a pre-paid label that you can use to ship your old bag back to us free of charge. Once we receive the bag, we'll work with our network of partners to get the bags in the hands of people who can benefit from them.
Click here for a complete list of eligible productsCurrently, we are accepting gently used luggage and duffel bags. We prefer that the items be lightweight, wheeled, and larger than a carry-on. Please ensure all zippers, wheels and handles are in working condition.
Currently, we are accepting supplies to ship to Haiti. Bags can be packed with necessary supplies that are in new, un-used condition, including: medical supplies (aspirin, ibuprofen & gauze pads), hygiene products (toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap & shampoo), school supplies (pencils, pens, crayons, notebooks & rulers) and more (garbage bags, flashlights & cloth diapers).
Packed with Purpose works with a number of charitable organizations. Currently, we are working with Healing Haiti & Goodwill.
Learn more about our partnersYes, all donations are going to tax deductible charities. Currently, we are working with Healing Haiti & Goodwill.
Currently, we are only accepting bags returned with an authorized pre-paid return label. Please contact Healing Haiti and Goodwill to learn more about how you can donate directly to their organizations.
Packed with Purpose has partnered with Healing Haiti to bring needed supplies and relief to Haiti. This is a country right in our back yard—considered one of the Americas—and yet is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Many people are living in extreme poverty, with no clean water, no electricity, no toilet, garbage everywhere, little food… where 10-12 people live in a one-room tin shack with a dirt floor, and where the floor turns to mud during the rainy season.
We collect and supply used bags that are used to transport medical supplies, baby formula, and school supplies which will be distributed to Haitians through HealingHaiti.org. Once the supplies are distributed, the bags are then given to Haitian people who have lost everything in the earthquake of 2010. These people are now living in tent cities throughout Port-au-Prince and use these bags as a 'dresser' to store and protect what little clothes and valuables they have. The Haitian people are extremely grateful for the help and support.
There are many challenges and opportunities to make a difference in the lives of the poor. Here are a few examples how Healing Haiti has stepped in and helped.
Funded a 3500 gallon water truck, delivering 364,000 gallons of clean water each month for free, in the slums of Cite Soleil and with the help of ECOsmarte and Reiser Relief were able to ship a second 2500 gallon water truck to Haiti.
Shipped and distributed over 1.75 Million meals from Feed My Starving Children and Kids Against Hunger.
In the summer of 2006, they broke ground on a 4-room school addition, a 30,000-gallon cistern (to collect clean water off the roof of the school), a 4-stall sanitary block (concrete outhouse) and a kitchen to replace the tin shack that was being used to prepare food for the children. Construction was finished and the project was dedicated in July, 2007.
In the summer of 2007, Healing Haiti began supporting a small orphanage, in the poor rural village of Titanyen. They provided, rent, food, water, beds and sent the children to school.
In the 2008, with the help of donors, 16 acres of land were purchased that would provide the foundation for Grace Village. In the fall of 2009, Healing Haiti broke ground on phase one of Grace Village which included a Feeding Center that feeds 80 children at one sitting. Each dormitory houses up to 40 children.
In January of 2010, Haiti experienced a 7.2 magnitude earthquake killing over 300,000 people, leaving over 1 million homeless. 3 days after the earthquake, Healing Haiti returned to help serve the victims of the quake. They went to work shuttling victims to makeshift clinics and started delivering clean water into the hardest hit areas and tent cities of Port-au-Prince. The new orphanage buildings were moderately damaged with some of the walls tumbling... but thankfully, none of the Healing Haiti workers were seriously hurt.
In 2011, Healing Haiti will bring 43 teams to Haiti. Over 400 people will experience the extreme poverty along with the joy and faithfulness of the Haitian people. They continue to care for their orphan children, pay teacher salaries at 3 schools so over 1000 children can go to school for free, run water trucks delivering clean water for free in one of the worst slums in the world, care for orphaned elderly in the rural village of Titanyen and continue to work on phase one of Grace Village with an expected completion date of January, 2012.
Packed with Purpose makes recurring donations of gently used luggage and bags to the retail stores of Goodwill Industries. The revenue earned from the sale of these bags at Goodwill stores is used to fund job training, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have disabilities, those who lack education or job experience, and others who face challenges to finding employment. Goodwill is the leading nonprofit provider of job training programs and career services in the United States and Canada, and its goal is to help people find and keep good jobs.
People served through employment and training programs: 2.4 million
Workforce development services provided: 29.4 million
People placed in employment: 170,000
Personal and family support services provided: 8 million
Total revenue generated by Goodwill organizations: $4.3 billion
Total revenue spent directly on programs: 84 percent
Total number of donors (includes repeat donations): 74 million
Every 42 seconds of every business day, someone earns a good job with the help of Goodwill.
