Supporting San Francisco

We are partnering with GLIDE, a local nonprofit organization that provides essential services to families and individuals in the Bay Area who need our support. Help us scale this partnership by collecting donation items for care packages. Your donations help GLIDE provide critical support for those impacted by poverty and homelessness in San Francisco.

What is GLIDE?

GLIDE is a nationally recognized center for social justice, dedicated to fighting systemic injustices, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, and transforming lives. GLIDE's mission is to create a radically inclusive, just, and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization.

Through their integrated comprehensive services, advocacy initiatives, and inclusive community, they empower individuals, families, and children to achieve stability and thrive. GLIDE is on the forefront of addressing some of society’s most pressing issues, including poverty, housing and homelessness, and racial and social justice.

Why is ASTA partnering with GLIDE?

The American Society of Travel Advisors is an industry trade group that firmly believes in the transformational power of tourism. When responsible travel management companies and industry groups support local communities with their tourism dollars, there is a direct positive benefit to local businesses.

At ASTA, we have an obligation to be in the vanguard of the travel industry’s recovery. With attendee safety always the top priority, we sometimes go to places where local travel partners need us the most, where we can take up projects that give back to the communities we visit. We remain committed to that effort at this year’s ASTA Global Convention, August 24-26, in San Francisco. Through our partnership with GLIDE, we’ll support the local economy and provide a needed service to the local San Franciscans.

We have worked closely with the San Francisco Hilton team, the Tenderloin Police Captain, Visit San Francisco, a representative from the mayor’s office, and the head of security at the Hilton Union Square. During a recent visit to San Francisco, it was clear that they are moving tremendous resources including opening new homeless shelters, hiring nurses, and deploying City Ambassadors to welcome and direct visitors on most street corners.

Our partnership with GLIDE will provide more resources to continue these efforts and with your help, we can scale our support for local community.

How Can ASTA Global Convention Attendees Support GLIDE?

Help GLIDE collect new items for care packages that support essential service efforts:

Street Outreach Care Packages – soaps, hand sanitizers, bottled waters, face masks, etc.
Shelter-In-Place Family Care Packages – diapers, baby wipes, baby and toddler toys, books for reading in English & Spanish, small family board games, etc.

Distance Learning Care Packages – notebooks, pencils, art supplies, etc.
Winter Essentials – socks, rain gear, gloves, jackets, umbrellas, backpacks, hand warmers, etc.
Undergarments for all genders of varying sizes

Guidelines

All items should be brand new.
No gift wraps please! Anything that has gift wrap should use transparent packaging so staff can identify the contents.
No food donations.

Where Do I Bring My Donation Items?

ASTA Global Convention attendees can bring their donation items to the registration desk where an ASTA staff member will gladly receive them. A representative from GLIDE will collect all the donations in the afternoon on Friday, August 26th

How Else Can I Support GLIDE?

On Tuesday, August 23rd, GLIDE is hosting a Mobile Popup from 11:00am -3:00pm. Convention participants can volunteer, participate, and visit booths that will be at the event to learn more about GLIDE. If you are interested in volunteering at the Mobile Popup, please email Khaboshi Imbukwa, GLIDE’s Volunteer Program Coordinator, kimbukwa@glide.org.