Are you coming for a Visit to Costa Rica?
You'll be enjoying the sites and scenery of this beautiful country. MAYBE interacting a tiny bit with the maid at your hotel that's lucky to make $350/month to support her WHOLE family - who won't have extra money for Christmas gifts - heck - who may not even have $$ to make a special Christmas dinner.
Added to right around the corner is the start of their school year - How's she going to come up with a couple hundred $$s for a uniform, backpack, shoes and school supplies - money they do not have
You have "stuff" sitting around not being used - right?
Why not help gather things to bring with you & SHARE!!!
WHAT ALL IS NEEDED?
Shoes you've worn just a few times? LOTS of Office and School Supplies (DESPERATELY NEEDED as the families have to pay for all that)? Old Soccer Equipment? Games? Little Kids Books? Baby clothes/things? Old Clothes (especially beachy clothes)
Heck, even ladies Undergarments (especially bras) and Socks are a luxury for most!
What will YOU do to GIVE BACK to the People/Land of Costa Rica???
The holidays are coming up - as well as "Tico's" "Summer Break" (because when North Americans have their Summer Break from school, it's Costa Rican's Rainy Season - and their driest [hence hottest] time of year is our "Winter" - most kids on the Tico school schedule are off around the middle of December till February-ish) and there are LOTS of people•families•kids that have little or nothing.You'll be enjoying the sites and scenery of this beautiful country. MAYBE interacting a tiny bit with the maid at your hotel that's lucky to make $350/month to support her WHOLE family - who won't have extra money for Christmas gifts - heck - who may not even have $$ to make a special Christmas dinner.
Added to right around the corner is the start of their school year - How's she going to come up with a couple hundred $$s for a uniform, backpack, shoes and school supplies - money they do not have
You have "stuff" sitting around not being used - right?
Why not help gather things to bring with you & SHARE!!!
WHAT ALL IS NEEDED?
Shoes you've worn just a few times? LOTS of Office and School Supplies (DESPERATELY NEEDED as the families have to pay for all that)? Old Soccer Equipment? Games? Little Kids Books? Baby clothes/things? Old Clothes (especially beachy clothes)
Heck, even ladies Undergarments (especially bras) and Socks are a luxury for most!
What will YOU do to GIVE BACK to the People/Land of Costa Rica???
If nothing else, why not consider leaving behind things you know you're not going to use for awhile - if at all. Things that weigh your suitcase down.
Leave behind your toiletries like
Shampoo • Conditioner • Soap • Hair Gel
Sunscreen • Bug Spray •
Sandals • Bathing Suits • Summer Clothes you KNOW you're not going to
use for months!! How about that 1/2 full bottle of ketchup, rum, bread.
(NOTE: If you're doing this, please write a note to their boss saying that you have gifted this to them - or they may get in trouble for stealing. Also, please do NOT necessarily NOT leave them a tip they have coming towards them as $$$ is the MOST IMPORTANT thing many can use!!).
TO LOCAL BUSINESSES DEALING WITH TOURISTS:
I think it would be a GREAT idea for business owners dealing with tourists - be you a hotel, restaurant, tour operator, driver, car rental agency - to post on their websites and Facebook pages and correspondences to clients - to encourage tourists to bring things to GIFT BACK to the people of Costa Rica - ESPECIALLY for the holidays (and provide a list or a link to a site to get more info).
I did that with my former guesthouse which became a Donation Drop-Off Point for charities. It was AWESOME what many guests and other tourists brought - because we asked!! They ESPECIALLY brought school equipment, sports equipment and shoes!!
MY FAV CHARITY?
Gail Nystrom
Gail Nystrom
with the
Costa Rica Humanitarian Foundation
(read about old posts at - facebook.com/groups/156808054815 )
(8-390-4192 • GNystrom@racsa.co.cr)
I consider this woman Ms Volunteer Costa Rica!!
Gail's been living in Costa Rica for over 30 years - having come initially with the PEACE CORP.
Gail's been living in Costa Rica for over 30 years - having come initially with the PEACE CORP.
She works SOOOO HARD to help some of the poorest of the poor in Costa Rica - in areas all over - though especially in La Carpio
So what will YOU BRING to Share•GIFT to local less fortunate you encounter in Costa Rica??
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