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SALT LAKE CITY — For the third-straight year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will roll out vending machines set up to collect items to donate to communities in need across the world for its annual “Light The World” campaign. However, there will be five more cities where a machine will be set up this holiday season.
Church officials announced Wednesday that new “giving machines” will be set up and operational at:
- Downtown Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning Nov. 14
- Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii, beginning Nov. 20
- University Place Mall in Orem beginning Nov. 26
- Writer Square in Denver, Colorado, beginning Nov. 26
- Christmas in the Park in San Jose, California, beginning Nov. 29
- TriNoma Mall in Manila, Philippines, beginning Friday
- Water Tower Plaza in Gilbert, Arizona, beginning Nov. 20
- Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City beginning Nov. 26
- Manhattan New York Temple in New York City beginning Dec. 3
- Hyde Park Visitors’ Centre in London beginning Dec. 3
Items in the machine range in price from $2 to $320 and can be purchased through swiping a credit or debit card. The money is donated collected goes to partner charities such as UNICEF, Church World Service, WaterAid, Water For People and International Medical Corps, according to church officials.
The church began testing out the machines to collect donations during the holidays in 2017. Officials say the machines have collected more than $2.7 million in donations in the first two years of the project.
In addition to the vending machines, the church will also encourage people to participate in 25 days of service in the 25 days leading up to Christmas. That program is set to begin in December.
