Escapee's C.A.R.E. Program, Traveling with a Purpose & Lasagna Love

Giving Tuesday is more than a day—it’s a movement. For RVers, it’s a chance to reflect on the road we’ve traveled, the communities we’ve touched, and the ways we can give back while living life on wheels.

Escapees CARE: Compassion On the Road

Escapees CARE (Continuing Assistance for Retired Escapees) is a nonprofit that provides a safety net for RVers who need extra support. Whether it’s medical recovery, respite care, or simply a helping hand, CARE ensures that the RV lifestyle remains accessible even when challenges arise.

Escapees CARE embodies this spirit of giving beautifully. Based in Livingston, Texas, CARE provides a lifeline for RVers who want to continue living in their rigs while facing challenges such as illness, recovery, or aging. Residents receive meals, transportation, housekeeping, and companionship, all while remaining part of the RV lifestyle they love. Volunteers and donors make this possible, proving that the open road is best traveled together.

The Gift of Time

Not only can you donate money to CARE, but you can also give the gift of your time. For residents who find themselves needing to stay at the CARE Center, volunteers are often the heartbeat of daily life. From driving to appointments, helping with meals, or simply offering companionship, your presence makes a tangible difference.

Volunteering at CARE isn’t just service- it’s a deeper sense of community. It’s a chance to connect with fellow RVers, to share stories, and to ensure that no one has to journey alone. If you’re ready to make an impact, you can learn more about volunteer opportunities on their website.

Traveling With a Purpose: A Different Kind of Journey This Year

For years, Traveling With a Purpose has invited RVers and volunteers to Jamaica, offering opportunities to both learn and grow while serving communities in need. It’s a tradition rooted in connection, compassion, and the belief that travel is most meaningful when it leaves the world better than we found it.

But this year is different.

While Hurricane Melissa may feel like it’s in the rearview mirror for many of us, that’s certainly not true in Jamaica. Communities there are still rebuilding homes, restoring schools, and repairing the rhythms of daily life. The storm’s impact lingers, and so does the need for support.

Both Robin's Nest Children's Home & Melody House still need your continued support. You can sign up for more information about a future community trip HERE

How Can Stand With Jamaica Right Now?

Even if we can’t physically be there this year, here are some ways we can still support Traveling with A Purpose

• Donating to relief and recovery efforts through trusted partners like TAP.
• Sharing stories that keep Jamaica’s needs visible long after the headlines fade.
• Offering skills remotely — from fundraising to awareness campaigns — that strengthen recovery.
  

Carrying Kay Peterson’s Legacy Forward

When Kay Peterson founded Escapees CARE in Livingston, Texas, she envisioned a place where RVers could continue living the lifestyle they loved even when age, illness, or recovery made travel difficult. CARE has become that lifeline, offering meals, transportation, and community support to residents who need it most.

Now, after the recent acquisition of Escapees RV Club by Harvest Hosts, CARE stands independently as its own nonprofit. That independence is powerful—but it also means CARE relies entirely on us, the RV community, to carry Kay’s legacy forward. Donations, volunteer service, and advocacy are what keep the doors open and the mission alive.

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to layer your compassion in three ways:

• Support Escapees CARE, ensuring RVers can continue their journeys with dignity.
  
• Stand with Traveling With a Purpose, helping Jamaica rebuild after Hurricane Melissa.
  
• Share comfort through Lasagna Love, reminding families everywhere that they are not alone.

Together, these efforts form a tapestry of care, purpose, and love. Kay’s vision was never just about one facility—it was about the heartbeat of the community. And now, it’s up to us to keep that vision alive.

This Giving Tuesday, let’s commit to keeping the road open for everyone, ensuring no one journeys alone.

Lasagna Love: Comfort Shared

Giving Tuesday is also about small acts of kindness. What began as one neighbor cooking for another has grown into a nationwide movement of kindness, delivering warm meals to families in need. It’s a simple act, but one that carries immense meaning. Just as lasagna layers pasta, sauce, and cheese, Lasagna Love layers compassion, nourishment, and connection.

This Giving Tuesday, Lasagna Love is cooking up something special. They’re hosting a virtual lasagna-making event... and it’s not just about the pasta. For those who may not want to make a physical lasagna, there’s another way to join in: you can donate to support the ingredients our volunteers use to serve families in communities across the country.

And they’ve just launched their brand-new volunteer portal, making it easier than ever to get involved. Whether you’re ready to roll up your sleeves in the kitchen or prefer to support behind the scenes, there’s a place for you in this movement of kindness.

Here’s how you can help this holiday season:

• Volunteer: Sign up through our new portal to be matched with neighbors in need.
• Donate: Support the cost of ingredients so volunteers can keep delivering yummy goodness
• Spread the Word: Share our mission with friends and family to multiply the impact.

The Pasta For a Purpose campaign runs through December 31, 2025. Every lasagna, every donation, and every act of kindness brings us closer to ensuring no family feels alone this holiday season.

Learn more and get involved here Pasta For a Purpose | Lasagna Love Giving Campaign

Together, these efforts remind us that Giving Tuesday is not just about writing a check—it’s about traveling with a purpose, sharing comfort, and building community wherever we are.