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At Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, we wholeheartedly believe that you are only as strong as the community you create. For us, that means cultivating our own community within the resort, while also identifying ways for our staff and guests to make a lasting impact outside of our walls. The Bucuti team has long been committed to supporting a number of causes here in Aruba, and we are thankful to have conscientious, caring guests who share our passion for contributing to the wellbeing of our One Happy Island.
Year after year, our guests actively support Bucuti’s charitable programs and sustainability initiatives. The time, expense, care, and heart that go into these causes is invaluable, and the act of giving back has helped all of us become more connected on a personal level. Our shared respect and love for Aruba has brought us together and, for many of our guests, a visit to Bucuti feels more like coming home than going on vacation.
Pack For A Purpose, one of our most successful charitable programs effectively ties home and vacation together. Through Pack For A Purpose, our guests support Imeldahof Children’s Home by bringing along items from home to donate to the children. The Pack For A Purpose motto is, “Small Space. Little Effort. Big Impact.”, and we have certainly seen a big impact here in Aruba. Since we launched Pack For A Purpose in the summer of 2015, guests from around the world have shown an outpouring of generosity, keeping room in their suitcases for more than 720 kg/1,600 lbs. of donations to the organization. Some guests have even gone above and beyond, traveling with entire boxes of donations. From clothing to school supplies, games, arts and crafts items, printer ink cartridges, and more, our guests have inspired creativity and positivity among these young Arubans age 6 – 16 who can not live with their families or primary caregivers.
We have many guests who visit Bucuti time and time again, and, in doing so, have developed a deep and personal connection with Aruba and its people. Giving back to the next generation of Arubans through Pack For A Purpose allows those visiting Aruba to make their travels even more meaningful to benefit the larger community we live in. Our guests are touched by the letters of recognition they receive from the children at “Kinderhuis Imeldahof”, and some have even joined our resort team when they deliver donations in person each month. A section of Bucuti’s Facebook page dedicated to recognizing guests for their support of Pack With A Purpose has become a de facto message board where our community can share their experience the program, ask questions, and engage with our team that manages the project and other participants.
When I founded Bucuti, it was important to me that community work was woven into the culture of the resort. Our support of organizations such as Kinderhuis Imeldahof and animal welfare organizations like Donkey Sanctuary Aruba and Turtugaruba, as well as our own stray dog sterilization subsidy program, have helped us become a force for positive change in Aruba. We also encourage guests to take part in our Green Stay energy reduction program, participate in our monthly resort-sponsored beach clean-ups, or judge one of our recycled craft contests. These partnerships bring us all together in support of the greater good and make our island a better place for all who live, work, and visit.