RELIGION
‘Light the World’ giving machines return for 2021 Christmas season
Nov 1, 2021, 10:08 AM | Updated: 10:41 am
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ popular red giving machines will return to 10 locations across the United States this Christmas season, beginning Wednesday.
The vending machines allow people to donate to dozens of local and global charity organizations and will be available at the following locations:
- Las Vegas, Nevada – Downtown Summerlin Mall (Nov. 3)
- Nashville, Tennessee – Bridgestone Arena (Nov. 18)
- Honolulu, Hawaii – Pearlridge Center (Nov. 20)
- Orem, Utah – University Place (Nov. 23)
- Salt Lake City, Utah – City Creek Center (Nov. 24)
- Oakland, California – Temple Hill (Nov. 27)
- Gilbert, Arizona – Water Tower Plaza (Nov. 29)
- Denver, Colorado – Writer Square (Nov. 30)
- Kansas City, Missouri – Crown Center (Nov. 30)
- New York, New York – Manhattan New York Temple (Nov. 30)
This will be the first time giving machines will be located in Kansas City, Nashville and Oakland.
“The Giving Machines offer the public a fun and memorable way to give and serve one another, but with a twist,” Church officials said. “Usually, when someone puts money into a vending machine, they receive something tangible in return. But a Giving Machine rewards the purchaser with something far more. Giving Machines provide a way for people to instantly think of others and generously give of themselves.”
‘Light the World’ giving machines will be available in 10 locations across the United States for people to donate to dozens of local and global charity organizations this Christmas season. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Members of the public can donate food, clean water, health care services, shelter, bedding, skills training and educational supplies through the giving machines. The ever-popular chickens, goats, pigs and beehives will also be available this year.
“Among the 40+ local charity partners, this year’s global charities include CARE, Church World Service, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNICEF and WaterAid,” Church officials said.
Officials added 100% of all donations go directly to each participating charitable organization as “The Church of Jesus Christ covers all expenses associated with the initiative, including credit card transaction fees.”
Nearly 256,000 items worth approximately $6.2 million were donated to charitable organizations in 2019 — the third year of the giving machines initiative. The machines were not used in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
To learn more about the Light the World initiative and giving machines, please visit LightTheWorld.org beginning Nov. 18.
The campaign will run through Jan. 1, 2022.
