Culture of Giving: Seattle Community Tours & Team Building

With the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), the health and safety of Global Family Travels’ travelers, community partners, colleagues and guides are of paramount importance to us. Our COVID-19 Safety Protocols, which can be found under Tasks section, outlines our commitment to mitigate and manage the risks associated with COVID-19 when you travel with us.  You can find more detailed information on our website COVID-19 and Travel, and please also refer to the tasks which has specific details for your activity and destination.  

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about these protocols or your tour.   Thank you for helping to keep yourself and fellow travelers and guides safe!   

Much more than a traditional tour operator, Global Family Travels’ mission is to “Learn, Serve and Immerse” through community-based travel programs.  In partnership with non-profit organizations and schools, we offer family-friendly and sustainable travel experiences in support of education, gender equality, access to clean water, preservation of local cultures, conservation and economic growth, all of which foster cross-cultural understanding and global citizens.  

Our trips include a unique mix of cultural and educational activities, homestays and participation in local service projects aimed at improving the lives of people in the communities we visit.    

An expert in immersive sustainable travel, we are now offering corporate team-building experiences to strengthen local communities.  We make it easy for your team to explore cultural and heritage landmarks while engaging with Greater Seattle partners who tackle community challenges.  Build bonds while working and playing together in beautiful and historic Pacific Northwest locations. 

These experiences revitalize teams, broaden perspectives and open new lines of communication. 

Expect to expand your family circle when you embark on a Global Family Travels trip!  Visit our website for more information: Global Family Travels

The Pike Place Market Foundation nurtures a thriving Market community so that everyone within it has the opportunity to live their best life possible. 

Established in 1982 to uplift the charter of Pike Place Market, the Market Foundation has granted $31 Million to support low-income housing, culturally-appropriate health care, access to healthy food, high-quality preschool, an active community and to fund capital needs within the historic district. As community builders in the Market we partner with, as well as operate and sustain, a network of programs and services that support low-income residents, workers, families and neighbors of the Market.

For the past 37 years, The Market Foundation has contributed to a neighborhood model that allows a diverse community to live and thrive here at Seattle’s historic Market. We do this by focusing on and measuring our impact against the model for a healthy community.

Photo Courtesy Pike Place Market Foundation

Engage your team in a day of learning and caring for our community! Your day will begin with a private tour of Pike Place Market and Pike Market Senior Center and Food Bank. During this tour, you will learn about the history of the market and the important role that the Pike Market Senior Center and Food Bank play for members of our community.   

While at the Pike Market Foodbank your team will engage in a service project that will support those engulfed in some of our communities’ biggest challenges like hunger and homelessness. While fulfilling our civic duty to care for our community, teams will also walk away with an appreciation of how caring for your community can draw a family closer and recognize the importance of caring for your own community as well.  

Participants can choose from a variety of market service projects. Learn more in the itinerary below. 

Start at the Pike Market Food Bank and travel through historic Pike Place Market picking up donations from the Vendors.  

Photo by Merrill Images

Pantry staples like rice, flour, sugar and salt are rare commodities for Food Bank visitors and are crucial for turning ingredients into a meal.  These items can be purchased relatively affordably and repackaged into portions for hundreds or even thousands of households.

Photo Courtesy Pike Market Food Bank

Homelessness is on the rise in Seattle and the need for pre-packaged portable food is also increasing. Assembling bags of ready-to-go foods helps us to meet this need in a straightforward way for anyone in downtown who needs the support. 

 Pack grocery bags for our homebound neighbors. Assist with assembling bags and delivering to residents in Pike Place Market.