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SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is bringing back its Light the World giving machines for the 2022 Christmas season, and is expanding the machines to 28 locations worldwide.
Permanent giving machines will be located in 20 cities, while eight locations will receive mobile giving machines — which will stay for a short time before traveling to a new location.
The giving-focused vending machines will include items such as vouchers for groceries, fresh water, child vaccines, beds, hygiene kits, farming equipment, medical care, job training, educational supplies, beehives and livestock, according to the church's website.
This season, giving machines will be in 28 cities, up from 10 in 2021. The giving machines will also make their debut outside of the U.S., with locations in Australia, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico and the Philippines.
Since their inception in 2017, contributions to giving machines have reached $15 million, according to the church. In 2021, the machines raised $5.8 million, and received clothing donations from around 300,000 people. Through the machines, the church raised funds for over 800,000 polio vaccines, chickens for over 80,000 families, over 10,000 menstrual care kits and 1.7 million meals.
This year, there are nearly 125 participating nonprofits, including the American Red Cross, UNICEF and the World Food Program.
Exact dates and locations for the machines will be announced on Nov. 16 at lighttheworld.org.
Here is the full list of the 20 cities where permanent giving machines will be located:
- Brisbane, Australia
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Cebu City, Philippines
- Denver
- Glendale, Arizona
- Gilbert, Arizona
- Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Honolulu
- Houston
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Las Vegas
- Manila, Philippines
- Mexico City
- Nashville, Tennessee
- New York
- Orem
- Sacramento, California
- Salt Lake City
- Seattle
- Washington, D.C.
Here are the eight cities that will receive mobile giving machines this year:
- Atlanta
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Flagstaff, Arizona
- Gila Valley, Arizona
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Tucson, Arizona
