Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

One of the most popular ways to give at Christmas is back after a year of COVID-19.

As part of the annual “Light the World” initiative, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Monday the return of Giving Machines.

“The annual effort, organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, encourages people everywhere to follow the Savior’s admonition to “love one another; as I have loved you” (John 13:34). The theme for this year’s initiative is “Light the World With Love,” a church statement said.

This holiday season, 10 cities across the United States will host these unique vending machines, offering people a fun and memorable way to give and serve.

The popular, red Giving Machines will be available beginning in this month.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

In Utah, the machines will be at two locations, starting on the dates listed:

• Orem — University Place (Nov. 23)
• Salt Lake City — City Creek Center (Nov. 24)

The eight other locations include:

• Las Vegas — Downtown Summerlin Mall (Wednesday)
• Nashville, Tennessee — Bridgestone Arena (Nov. 18)
• Honolulu — Pearlridge Center (Nov. 20)
• Oakland, California — Temple Hill (Nov. 27)
• Gilbert, Arizona — Water Tower Plaza (Nov. 29)
• Denver — Writer Square (Nov. 30)
• New York — Manhattan New York Temple (Nov. 30)
• Kansas City, Missouri — Crown Center (Nov. 30)

Nashville, Oakland and Kansas City are new locations this year.

“Every machine includes items from global and local charities. This year’s global charities are CARE, Church World Service, UNHCR, UNICEF, and WaterAid,” a church statement said. “Within each Giving Machine are items such as food, clean water, healthcare services, shelter, bedding, hygiene kits, job training, educational supplies and more, with prices ranging from $2.00 to $500 (depending on location). Of course, the ever-popular chickens, goats, pigs, and beehives are also available.”

Since 2017, Giving Machines have raised more than $9 million for humanitarian organizations in local communities and across the world.

“We are honored and excited that University Place has the opportunity to once again host The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Light the World Giving Machines,” said Arty Woodbury, vice president of Woodbury Corp, which manages University Place. “The first year the machines were here, the donations that people made individually and collectively as a community were humbling and inspiring. We got a lot of feedback that people were grateful for this location because they wanted to participate, but could not always make it to the machines in downtown Salt Lake.”

The Giving Machines offer the public a unique way to give and serve one another, but with a twist. Usually, when someone puts money into a vending machine, they receive something tangible in return. But a Giving Machine rewards the purchaser in a different way by providing a means for people to instantly think of others and generously give of themselves.

“A vital component of Giving Machines is that 100% of all donations go directly to each participating charitable organization. This arrangement is possible because the Church of Jesus Christ covers all expenses associated with the initiative, including credit card transaction fees,” the church statement said. “So every penny donated is used to provide the desired goods and services the donor has so generously purchased.”

Giving Machines provide necessary care to millions of people in need, and through this initiative, the Church hopes that neighborhoods and communities will be more united as their citizens demonstrate increased love, charity, kindness and compassion toward others.

The machines in all locations will operate through Jan. 1.

To learn more about Giving Machines and the Light the World initiative, visit LightTheWorld.org beginning Nov. 18.

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