Hope Floats connects cruise ships with trusted Caribbean charities by repurposing their new and used inventory into tangible goods for locals.
Hope Floats bridges the gap between cruise ships and Caribbean communities, turning gently used goods into meaningful donations. By working hand-in-hand with trusted local charities, we help reduce waste and create real impact, island by island.
Ports Where We Make an Impact
From Belize to Barbados, Hope Floats coordinates Donation Drops in ports across the Caribbean. Each location represents a trusted partnership where slightly used goods are turned into meaningful support for local communities.
“Wow, how wonderful everything you do, in the following show of generosity you could include The Salvation Army of the Dominican Republic, it has the national office in Santo Domingo near the port of San Souci. Many blessings to you, surely with this donation you are changing lives in the Dominican Republic..!!”
Whether you’re curious about how Hope Floats works, wondering how to get involved, or need help navigating your first Donation Drop — our team is ready to answer.
Browse our FAQ to get quick answers or reach out directly. No question is too small when it comes to making a difference.
We are a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (est. 2009). We connect cruise ships that want to donate gently used items to our personally vetted island charities while in port.
Cruise lines set aside their new or slightly used items to be DONATED in the future during a scheduled port of call. We at Hope Floats coordinate with these fully vetted NGO’s (Non Profit’s) so they’ll be ready to receive and distribute these much needed items. We’ve done this 17 times benefiting 9 different islands in the past 6 months.
This is that MAGIC moment when the ship arrives and local charities are ready with smiles, staff, and trucks to collect donations. It’s like Christmas morning—complete with ship & charity video/photographers capturing this win-win for social media!
Depending on the need, items may go directly to needy individuals or are sold in their thrift stores to fund programs. From sun loungers and glassware to pallets of toilet paper or woolen blankets and tables—every DD is different, but the impact is impressive.
It’s smooth sailing from start to finish:
The heart behind Hope Floats starts with Cathy and Bill — two passionate, purpose-driven people with a shared vision for doing good while traveling the world. From their early days speaking aboard cruise ships to launching a nonprofit that now connects communities across 17 Caribbean islands/nations, resulting in sustainable giving.
Founders & Chief Dreamers
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