Beyond the Hunt: Women Making a Difference Through Humanitarian Outreach
For many women, hunting is about much more than the pursuit of game. It is about conservation, stewardship, providing for our families, and building meaningful connections with people and places around the world. Increasingly, women are discovering another powerful way to make an impact, combining their hunting adventures with humanitarian efforts.
My own journey into hunting began later in life, and I never imagined it would lead me to the incredible opportunities and relationships I have today. Through Safari Club International and my travels to South Africa, I was introduced to the humanitarian side of hunting and conservation. It opened my eyes to the profound difference hunters can make beyond the field.
The Bell Family Blue Bag Project
One of the greatest inspirations on this journey was the Bell family and the legacy of Amy Bell. Through the Blue Bag Project, hunters are encouraged to pack a simple duffel bag filled with much-needed supplies to be distributed to children and families in rural communities. What may seem like a small gesture can have a tremendous impact on those who receive these gifts.
After many heartfelt conversations with Larry Bell and much prayerful consideration, my husband Jeff and I knew were called to educate hunters about the Blue Bag Project and the Bell family’s mission.
Our path may not be the one every hunter chooses, but we took a leap of faith and reached out to the Minnesota Chapter of Safari Club International for our first booth. From there, we began traveling to shows throughout Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota, sharing the story of how hunters can make a difference beyond the hunt.
As our understanding and passion for humanitarian outreach grew, we knew the next step. Jeff and I established the Goulet Cares Project Foundation with a simple mission: connect hunters with opportunities to give back while traveling abroad. Working alongside outfitters such as Marupa Safaris and Dream Team Safaris, we support orphanages and children’s homes throughout South Africa by providing school supplies, clothing, bedding, food, and other essential items.
One of our primary partners is Morester Child and Youth Care Center in Rustenburg, South Africa. Through the generosity of hunters, conservationists, and supporters, we have helped provide school supplies for the children and are currently working to furnish 22 beds with new bedding. Future projects include a much-needed kitchen remodel and other infrastructure improvements that directly benefit the children in their care.
Today, we are also excited to be onboarding our second orphanage partnership, Caritas Community Focus in Kimberley, South Africa, where 85 children call home. We look forward to helping support critical infrastructure projects and addressing the ongoing needs of the children and staff who serve them.
How Women Can Get Involved
Women are uniquely positioned to lead these efforts. Whether it’s organizing supply drives, filling Blue Bags, fundraising, sharing stories, volunteering at events, or simply encouraging others to participate, women bring compassion, creativity, and servant leadership to the hunting community.
Many times, we hear people say, “There is nothing I can do beyond hunting.” That is where the conversation begins. We simply ask, “Have you heard of Amy Bell Charities and the Blue Bag Project?”
The memories of a successful hunt may last a lifetime, but so do the smiles of children receiving school supplies, warm bedding, clothing, or basic necessities they may have never had before. By combining conservation, hunting, and humanitarian outreach, we can create a legacy that reaches far beyond ourselves.
As women in hunting, we have an opportunity not only to participate in conservation but also to be ambassadors of kindness, generosity, and hope. The greatest trophy may not be the one hanging on the wall—it may be the lives we help change along the way.
If you would like to learn more about the Blue Bag Project, Amy Bell Charities, or the Goulet Cares Project Foundation, we would love to connect with you. Together, we can continue building a culture of conservation, compassion, and service—one hunt, one Blue Bag, and one child at a time.
Getting involved with the Goulet Cares Project Foundation is simple, and every contribution makes a difference. Women can support the mission by packing a Blue Bag with essential supplies, organizing donation drives within their local communities, hunting groups, churches, or SCI chapters, sponsoring specific orphanage needs, or making financial contributions that help us purchase needed items throughout the year. Even sharing our mission and educating others about humanitarian opportunities within the hunting community helps expand our impact.
How the Project Works
The Goulet Cares Project Foundation works alongside outfitters, hunters, and humanitarian partners in South Africa to identify the greatest needs within the orphanages and children’s homes we support. Hunters traveling can participate by taking a Blue Bag filled with donated supplies. These bags are delivered directly to orphanages, schools, and communities in need.
In addition to the Blue Bag Project, financial donations help fund larger initiatives, including school supplies, bedding, food assistance, infrastructure improvements, kitchen renovations, and other critical needs identified by the orphanages we serve.
Our mission is simple: connect hunters and travelers with opportunities to make a lasting difference. By combining the spirit of adventure with a heart for service, we can ensure that every journey leaves a positive impact on the people and communities we encounter.
If you would like to learn more, sponsor a project, pack a Blue Bag, or support one of the orphanages directly, we would love to hear from you. Together, we can continue to provide hope, essential resources, and brighter futures for children in need.
You can connect with us at GouletCaresProject.org, or reach out to the Bell family at AmyBellcharities.org
By Haylee Goulet
