An important way you can spread the light and love of Jesus Christ this Christmas is through one of many Light the World Giving Machines. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sponsoring these giving-focused vending machines in 61 locations around the world during the 2023 holiday season.
The machines have 1,200 unique items available across all locations. These goods and services were requested by carefully screened and reputable local and international nonprofits. These include meals, groceries, shelter, clothing, healthcare, education, bedding, hygiene kits, job and career training, crops and livestock (such as chickens, goats, pigs, ducks, sheep and beehives). Patrons can type in 777 to purchase one of everything in a machine.
In 2022, donations to Giving Machines provided 2.2 million meals; 31 million water purification tablets (enough to purify 3.9 million gallons of water); vaccinations for 517,000 children; 41,000 chickens; school supplies for 28,000 children; 25,000 ducks; safe shelter for 3,400 people; scholarships for 3,000 children and teens; shoes, socks and warm winter clothing for 35,000 children and adults; 3,800 beehives; and the protection of 459 women and children from further domestic violence or child abuse.
Since Giving Machines first launched in 2017, 1.5 million people have donated more than US$22 million. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all program operational expenses. This ensures that participating nonprofits receive 100% of the collected funds. Participating nonprofits can use up to 10% of Giving Machine donations for overhead expenses. And each is required to submit a detailed report on how funds were used.
During the 2023 Christmas season, Light the World Giving Machines can be found in the following 61 locations in seven countries:
Australia
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
- Perth
- Sydney
Canada
- Calgary
- Toronto
Guatemala
- Cobán
- Guatemala City
- Quetzaltenango
Mexico
- Aragon
- Cuernavaca
- Pachuca
- Puebla
- Toluca
- Tula
New Zealand
- Auckland
Philippines
- Cebu City
- Manila
United States
- Atlanta
- Boston
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Columbia, (Maryland)
- Dallas
- Dana Point (California)
- Denver
- Des Moines
- Flagstaff
- Fort Worth (Downtown)
- Forth Worth (Grapevine)
- Gila Valley
- Gilbert
- Henderson
- Honolulu
- Houston
- Huntington Beach
- Indianapolis
- Kaneohe
- Kansas City (Missouri)
- Knoxville
- Laie
- Las Vegas (Downtown Summerlin)
- Modesto
- Nashville
- New York City (Times Square)
- New York City (Church of Our Savior, 59th Avenue)
- Omaha
- Orem
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Portland
- Prescott
- Richmond
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- Seattle
- Snowflake
- St. Louis
- Tucson
- Washington, D.C.
More than 250 local and global nonprofits are participating this year — more than all previous years combined. Below are the global nonprofits:
- African Girls Hope Foundation
- American Red Cross
- Care USA
- Care Canada
- Church World Service
- iDE
- Lifting Hands International
- Mentors International
- UNICEF Australia
- UNICEF Canada
- UNICEF USA
- WaterAid
Those unable to visit a physical machine can participate at GivingMachine.org beginning Monday, November 13, 2023.
