From Living Water to Children Everywhere: A Tradition of Giving

How 166 Shoeboxes Became Small Messengers of Hope this Christmas Several years ago, what began as a simple suggestion from one team member has grown into a defining holiday tradition at Living Water. Operation Christmas Child — a global program of Samaritan’s Purse — delivers shoeboxes filled with toys, hygiene items, and school supplies to children in need around the world.



This year, our team packed and sent 166 shoeboxes, each one carrying a little joy — and a lot of love — to children who might otherwise go without.

In past years, under the leadership of Living Shore Spa Director Sandra Van De Vechte, our team filled many shoeboxes — an extraordinary achievement during some very challenging seasons.

That effort meant hundreds of children, in places many of us will never visit, woke up on Christmas morning to laughter, excitement, and the simple gift of being remembered.

These boxes may be small, but the impact is anything but. They carry compassion across borders, linking giver and receiver in a shared moment of humanity.

Larry Law, Founder of Living Water Resorts, sees something deeper in the tradition:



“When I see our team gather to pack 166 shoeboxes, I don’t just see toys or soap being tucked into a box — I see love in every gesture, proof that someone, somewhere, cares. Every shoebox is a seed of hope, a reminder that even across oceans, love can be seen, and no one is invisible.”

At Living Water, this is what the holiday season is about: generosity, togetherness, and the belief that even the smallest act of kindness can light up someone’s world.