What if the holiday season wasn’t just about celebration, but restoring hope?

For many families, the holidays are a season of joy, filled with warmth, tradition, and togetherness. But for countless others in our local communities, these months bring a different reality: worry, hardship, and the painful weight of being unable to provide even the simplest holiday gifts or meals.

At Saint John’s Resort, we believe that no one should be forgotten during a season meant for generosity and light.

Through our “Thanks for Giving” and “Christmas Giving Tree” initiatives, we invite our guests to join us in lifting the burden for local families in need. During the holiday season, our lobbies transform into hubs of quiet generosity, where guests select wish tags, purchase gifts, or contribute to providing holiday meals for those facing hardship.

“When the Giving Trees go up, something shifts — guests stop, read about the children’s charity that each tree represents, and take a moment to help someone they’ll never meet. It’s simple, it’s generous, and it reminds us what the holidays are really about.” -Amy Liesveld, Humanitarian Hotels Program Manager

Last year, over 11,500 guests participated, helping fulfill thousands of individual needs and ensuring that hundreds of families experienced the simple, joyful dignity of being seen and cared for during the holidays.

“Through the holiday giving campaign, I had the honor of presenting a large check to the soup kitchen in downtown Detroit. My little brother is homeless and has actually received meals from that very kitchen, so it was incredibly humbling for me to be the one handing them this donation.” -Theresa Sydney, Five Steakhouse Server

The gifts offered through these programs are more than toys or warm meals—they are reminders that compassion still has a place in the world, and that a single act of kindness can ripple far beyond what we see.