Light the World Giving Machines opening in 61 locations in 2023
Giving-focused vending machines to be in 61 locations across the U.S. and around the world, with options to donate online
Tracy and Pam Fuller donate seeds, polio vaccines, ducks and diapers at the Light the World Giving Machines at City Creek Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Light the World Giving Machines opening in 61 locations in 2023
Giving-focused vending machines to be in 61 locations across the U.S. and around the world, with options to donate online
Tracy and Pam Fuller donate seeds, polio vaccines, ducks and diapers at the Light the World Giving Machines at City Creek Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Light the World Giving Machines are opening this Christmas season in 61 cities, up from 28 in 2022.
The red vending machines will be located in seven countries in 2023 — the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Canada.
At a Giving Machine, people can buy something for someone else in need. Since 2017, 1.5 million visitors have donated more than $22 million to local and global nonprofit organizations, with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covering all operational expenses.
This year’s options include mobile machines that stay in some cities temporarily and others that are in the same spot the whole season. Those who do not have a Giving Machine in their city can also donate online at GivingMachine.org.
At a media event announcing the new locations, Elder William K. Jackson, General Authority Seventy, spoke about the impact of this campaign.
“This world is filled with good,” he said. “People would love to do something, but they often have no idea how to do it. So the Giving Machines give people a way to donate, a way to get involved — a way to bless somebody’s life without having to figure out the logistical and administrative things.”
Because of his career and Church callings, Elder Jackson has spent much of his life living in many different countries.
“Our experience living abroad — particularly in the developing world — is that almost everyone you meet, even if they have nothing, are still willing to give,” he said.
When speaking about the Light the World Giving Machines this season, Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, issued this invitation: “Come and see, come and feel, and come and give.”
Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, speaks about the annual Light the World Giving Machine initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.
Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
Locations of the 2023 Giving Machines
The 61 locations in seven countries are as follows.
Australia
Canada
Guatemala
- Cobán
- Guatemala City
- Quetzaltenango
Mexico
- Aragon
- Cuernavaca
- Pachuca
- Puebla
- Toluca
- Tula
New Zealand
Philippines
United States
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Chicago, Illinois
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Columbia, Maryland
- Dallas, Texas
- Dana Point, California
- Denver, Colorado
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Flagstaff, Arizona
- Fort Worth, Texas, downtown
- Fort Worth, Texas, in Grapevine
- Gila Valley, Arizona
- Gilbert, Arizona
- Henderson, Nevada
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Houston, Texas
- Huntington Beach, California
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Kaneohe, Hawaii
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Laie, Hawaii
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Modesto, California
- Nashville, Tennessee
- New York City, at Times Square
- New York City, at Church of Our Savior, 59th Ave.
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Orem, Utah
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Portland, Oregon
- Prescott, Arizona
- Richmond, Virginia
- Sacramento, California
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio, Texas
- Seattle, Washington
- Snowflake, Arizona
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Tucson, Arizona
- Washington, D.C.
Participating nonprofit organizations at the Giving Machines
Mary Concepter Obiero, director of relief development and protection for Church World Service Africa, shares about the annual Light the World Giving Machine initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.
Megan Nielsen, Deseret News
Mary Concepter Obiero with Church World Service Africa, a faith-based organization that helps those who suffer from hunger, poverty and displacement around the world, has seen the impact of Giving Machines donations firsthand in several African countries.
“I’ve not only seen it, I’ve felt it,” she said. “When I give a woman a hug who has received chickens or pigs, I feel her heart. This has changed her life.”
This year, 1,200 items will be featured in the Giving Machines, including livestock, seeds, water, clothing, school supplies, immunizations and more.
More than 250 local and global nonprofit organizations are participating in the Giving Machines this year — more than all previous years combined. The global charities this year are:
- African Girls Hope Foundation
- American Red Cross
- Care USA
- Care Canada
- Church World Service
- International Development Enterprises
- Lifting Hands International
- Mentors International
- UNICEF Australia
- UNICEF Canada
- UNICEF USA
- WaterAid
Obiero said the donations increase self-reliance for women and families and change their futures through generations, because women are seen as providers and contributors to their families and are given more respect in their communities. Even a small donation can be increased exponentially on the ground level.
Kevin Rice, the vice president of development for Mentors International, said the Giving Machine initiative gives his organization the opportunity to provide “hope and a means to an end” to those they serve.
“People and families can create savings and buy inventory and do things they otherwise couldn’t do,” he said. “It’s wonderful.”
Families begin picking out items to donate at the Giving Machine in Gilbert, Arizona on Nov. 29, 2021.
Kary Ann Hoopes, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Families serving together at Giving Machines
Sister Wright said it is beautiful to see families and children involved in giving.
“The children get so excited because there is an opportunity to purchase a goat for someone. And you hear families talk about why that would be important to another family that looks like them,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful thing that we are engaging children in this,” Sister Wright said. “They come to this world with giving hearts. They are natural givers, it is part of their nature. And to see that they can actually influence and affect the lives of other children, I think that’s precious.”
Elder Jackson said the Giving Machines are a way to follow the Savior’s example and love one’s neighbor. “Regardless of economic status, country, language, culture or religion, this world is filled with good.”
Editor’s note: The Las Vegas, Nevada, location was inadvertently left off the initial reports was added on Friday, Nov. 10, at 4:30 p.m.
