We recently got back from our trip to Negril, Jamaica for the Social Media On the Sand conference at the Beaches Resort. At the conference, The Sandals Foundation, non-profit for Sandals and Beaches Resorts, announced its new collaboration with School Specialty through the Pack for a Purpose® program. This partnership will assist travelers to Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, who wish to bring along much-needed supplies for local schools in the Caribbean.

Pack for a Purpose® program

Before the conference, all the attendees received a lightweight backpack that we filled with school supplies. I packed the recommend five pounds of supplies in my suitcase to travel to Jamaica. (Plus I had extra space leftover to bring souvenirs home!)

6 days until our trip to Jamaica! I’ve got 5lbs of school supplies packed and ready to go! #beachesmoms #contest #sandals #packforapurpose #schoolsupplies

A photo posted by M A R V E L O U S M O M M Y (@amylou262) on Oct 20, 2016 at 2:59pm PDT

Together, we’ll help to make a meaningful impact on the education of thousands of children throughout the Caribbean. Over the next twelve months, School Specialty has committed its support to students and teachers in The Islands with a donation of educational supplies valued at $150,000. First priority has earmarked a portion of these supplies for schools across The Bahamas including schools in hardest hit islands like Grand Bahamas and Andros for hurricane relief efforts.

Most of the time when you make a donation, you don’t really get to see how your contribution makes a difference. I actually got to hug that little girl that will use those markers and those scissors that I carefully picked out. It’s truly a life changing experience.

(more…)