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Two girls look at the items available to buy for those in need from the Light the World Giving Machines at University Place in Orem on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

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A girl looks at the many options available for purchase in a Giving Machine in Gilbert, Arizona.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

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Visitors purchase items from Light the World Giving Machines at City Creek Center in Salt Lake City.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

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From now through the end of the year, Light The World Giving Machines will be ready to accept donations at their typical location in front of Dillards at University Place in Orem.

The machines are sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They work like this: Instead of someone buying something for themselves, their purchase is a donation for someone in need.

According to the church, this year’s machines will offer 1,200 unique gift options across all locations — 61 in total spread out around the globe, more than double the 28 put out last year. Some of the donations include meals, groceries, shelter, clothing, health care, education, bedding, hygiene kits, job and career training, crops and livestock.

If desired, users can even type in “777” to purchase one of everything in a machine.

The theme of this year’s Light the World Christmas initiative is “Let Your Light Shine.”

Utah County is known for its giving and often is the top donation getter in the lineup of Giving Machines worldwide.

Last year, the local giving was substantial. About $1.1 million came through the Orem machines. Thousands of Utah County residents, and even more people worldwide, were fed, clothed and cared for in 2023 because of donations made at the Giving Machines in Orem.

This year, 10 local charities will be part of the giving as well as several international options. Local charities include Community Action Services and Food Bank, Tabitha’s Way, United Way of Utah County, Family Haven, Centro Hispano, RAH, Show UP, Refuge and the Boys & Girls Clubs.

“We are fortunate here in Utah County to have such great charities to choose from and work with,” said Mark Seastrand, local Giving Machines committee member. “Each year, we research and review these charities to identify a good variety of services and products that are offered for the needs of our local community. We also work with selected international charities to help those in need in other parts of the world.”

Seastrand said this is done so families and individuals making donations find things important to them that they want to give to others.

“Lighting the world begins with giving something important to you for someone else,” Seastrand said. “It can identify different needs and can direct the donation to those needs people want to help.”

Many times, people want to donate or help but don’t know how or where the help is needed, according to Seastrand.

“By working with these charities that are so good at providing help every day,” he said, “we are able to identify the greatest needs and get the resources to where it’s needed most. The donations from the Giving Machines go directly to the source that can best provide the desired benefit.”

“This community sets the standard of giving, both in time and financial means. We really appreciate the volunteers, the organizations that support this effort and especially the people who give so generously to help our community and people in need. It’s not just the funding that comes from the process, it’s the community working together to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors and friends,” he added.

According to the church, donations to Giving Machines in 2022 provided 2.2 million meals; 31 million water purification tablets, or 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 protection for 459 women and children from further domestic violence or child abuse.

During the 2023 Christmas season, Light the World Giving Machines can be found in 42 U.S. cities, including Orem and Salt Lake City, as well as six other countries.

More than 250 local and global nonprofits are participating this year — more than all previous years combined, the church noted.

Those unable to visit a physical machine can participate at GivingMachine.org.

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