Sometimes you meet someone who touches your soul. For me, that happened twelve years ago, when I met Karin Charlet at an event hosted by United Fund Belgium. I don’t believe in coincidence. I believe the universe brings people together at the right moment, to remind us of what truly matters.
Karin’s story has always stayed with me. Thirty years ago, she was deeply moved by the harsh reality of children growing up in poverty — children who lacked not only material necessities but, more importantly, love and warmth. She decided: “If God asks us to take care of one another, then I must do this now.”
At first, she literally welcomed children into her own home. But when her small house became too full — and she realized it was also a heavy burden on her own family — she looked for another solution. She rented a space where she could gather children every week. There, they received a warm meal and felt seen and loved, even if only for a short while. Every week, Karin and her husband would fill two shopping carts with sandwiches and food to prepare for them.
That’s how Love in Action was born.
A mother and her son
She told me about a single mother with cancer. She knew she was going to die and had no one to care for her son. With tears in her eyes, she asked, “When I’m gone, can he live with you?” Karin and her husband hesitated for a moment — it was an enormous responsibility — but their answer was ultimately full of love: “Yes.” Today, that boy lives with them and is thriving in a nurturing environment.
The student and the cancer diagnosis
Or the story of Simon, a 19-year-old student. His parents were addicted, yet he was determined to finish his studies at all costs. Then, suddenly, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Every day he had to go to the hospital… alone. Karin couldn’t stand to see this. She and her husband made sure someone accompanied him every single day.
When it turned out there wasn’t enough money for his medication, Karin organized a flea market. Together with what Simon had managed to save himself, he was able to pay for his treatment. His gratitude and resilience are incredible. Now he’s saving up for his driver’s license, and Karin continues to support him step by step.
The woman who lost everything
Adults also found their way to her. One such case was a 60-year-old woman who lost her husband to cancer. She couldn’t afford the high cost of medication, had to sell her apartment, and suddenly found herself literally on the street, with only two plastic bags in her hands. Karin welcomed her into her home for two months, providing rest, care, love, and helping her stand on her feet again.
And these are just a few examples from an endless stream of stories. Every week, Karin and her team now reach 200 families. They pack lunchboxes so that children don’t go to school hungry on Mondays and Tuesdays. In the summer, she organizes camps for dozens of children who would otherwise never experience a holiday.
When I heard this, I knew: I wanted to contribute. Together with Arteel, we decided to donate 768 Healthy Living sets from our LuckyBird collection to Love in Action. Karin rented a truck, and together with her husband, drove from Wervik to Rotselaar to collect the 8 pallets.
Karin will encourage the children to sell these packages creatively during the Christmas season — not only to raise money for camps and projects, but also to teach them entrepreneurship, teamwork, and pride.
Once again, we donated 768 sets to the Bremberg School for special education in Molenstede, where children and teachers turn it into a meaningful project together.
This is exactly what LuckyBird makes possible. LuckyBird is our appreciation concept, through which employees of companies receive an annual gift voucher. But instead of a standard gift, they get to choose for themselves: a product, an experience, or a donation to a charity like Love in Action.
That is the essence of LuckyBird: appreciating with freedom of choice. Giving can be receiving. Receiving can be giving. And in both cases, you spread light.
My call this holiday season: when you receive a LuckyBird voucher, take a moment to think. Perhaps you’ll choose something for yourself — that’s perfectly fine. But perhaps you’ll also choose to support someone else. Because giving with the right intention creates wonders. As Karin shows every day: small acts of love can change lives.
I am so grateful that we can make moments like these possible thanks to our family business, our mission and hard work, and also thanks to our customers and team. These are moments that bring a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes, grateful that we can contribute.
Nathalie Arteel
