Last week, I noticed my friend had posted online that she and her family had found their local Giving Machine. And each of her 3 young children had chosen a gift to donate. Her youngest was rather upset to discover the chickens she had decided to give were not available for her to take home on the spot. It was adorable!
Every year, I love watching the progress of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Light the World Giving Machines. It’s a wonderful charitable program that started in 2017, with its first machine appearing in Times Square in NYC in 2018. I got to write about it a couple of years ago in this article,
My son still chooses to donate goats when we go to our local Giving Machine. They have expanded their operations exponentially in just a few years. In 2023, there were 3 international charities and 3 local ones to choose from. Now they have expanded to 12 global participants, 4k options for items you can donate, and 500 local nonprofit organizations. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has vetted every organization and deemed them reputable and reliable.
Giving Machines- a convenient charity
Instead of purchasing candy or snacks from a vending machine, people buy goods and services to support those in need. It’s a machine that enables a person to give, rather than receive. Items vary by city, but a typical machine includes food, clean water, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education support, hygiene kits, bedding, job and career training, and even livestock such as chickens, goats, pigs, and beehives.
And this year, the Giving Machines are in more places than ever. Starting December 1, Giving Machine kiosks will be available in 126 cities across 21 countries and on six continents — including the first in South America. New international countries this year include Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Thailand.
For the 9th holiday season in a row, charitable giving will once again be as simple as buying a soda or candy bar. In less than a minute, holiday do-gooders can use the vending-machine-like Giving Machines to purchase items ranging from chickens and goats, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, a hot meal for someone in need, polio vaccines, school desks, and even a community well.
Help Light the World
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints annually organizes this effort as a convenient way for people to make donations to vetted local and global charities during the holiday season. All transactions benefit charities not associated with the Church, which covers all operational costs (including credit card fees), ensuring that 100% of every donation goes to the giver’s desired charitable cause.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all operating costs, ensuring that 100% of each donation goes directly to the participating nonprofits. The Church does not receive any financial benefit from this initiative.
Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman said Wednesday that her family has donated through Giving Machine kiosks every year since 2017. And every year they have donated chickens.
“It’s so fun to think about how what begins as a three-to-five-minute experience in front of one of these machines turned into a lifetime change for a family or even just one young woman,” President Freeman said. “That’s such an amazing and remarkable thing for all of us to be able to participate in.”
Good things are happening
Sister Kristin M. Yee of the Relief Society General Presidency spoke of the importance of the many nonprofits the Church is serving with to make these good things happen.
“We have so many wonderful participating nonprofits that are part of this work,” Sister Yee said. “We are so grateful to work with them in this effort. There are many hands that are part of this. We cannot do this on our own. It’s only together that we can do this. Whether we’re a nonprofit or just an individual, we can have the opportunity to help and offer acts of kindness and help move goods to those in need.”
When donations are transferred to each nonprofit organization, the Church also provides an itemized list of purchases, ensuring that every donor’s gift is delivered. These organizations have 12 months to fulfill those orders. Nonprofits can use up to 10% of their Giving Machine receipts for overhead costs, but most choose to use much less or none.
Each city’s Giving Machines contain items for “purchase” from international charity partners (such as UNICEF, American Red Cross, Care, WaterAid, etc.) and hometown charity partners to benefit the local community, allowing folks to either help their neighbor around the corner or a stranger around the world.
Getting back to Facebook, I found a post Travis Kelce put up advocating for Giving Machines. I love how many people are getting into this wonderful cause!
Are you feeling inspired yet? I sure am. Here is a link to where you can find all the Giving Machines around the globe. I found one in my city. Is there one in yours? Click this link to find out.
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