While you’re on the road:
- Re-hang your towels to dry instead of leaving them on the floor to be replaced twice per day. This saves millions of gallons of water and the release of tons of detergent into the environment.
- The same goes for daily changing of sheets—unless otherwise necessary, change your sheets only as often as you would at home. Most hotels have a simple way for guests to indicate that they do not need their sheets rewashed each day.
- Make an effort to drink locally produced bottled water (if you can’t drink tap water), beer and other bottled goods when possible. This saves a great deal of pollution created when you order your favorite sparkling water from Italy while in Cambodia—nice, but not necessary.
- Buy locally made goods and have fun bargaining, but don't bargain too hard. If you overpay a bit, you might just put some more food on the table of a poor working family.
- Plan ahead—take a look at the Wish Lists of the charitable organizations you plan to visit and pack what you can for the trip. Some of the requests are as simple as band-aids or decent used clothing. Gather friends, family and co-workers or share the wish lists with them via email. Let them know you are going and want to make the best contribution possible on behalf of the group. You’ll be amazed at how people will jump at the chance to give to a trusted, worthy cause independent of big bureaucracy. You can bear witness to the delivery of the aide your group has given and share pictures while recounting the story to all who helped and to those who might help next time.
- Large donated items can be purchased before you arrive and delivered in person. While you are visiting the projects, ask questions, assess the situation and think about how you and your network of friends and family can help a project or projects into the future.
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