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- Donations to Light the World Giving Machines provided 2 million meals and vaccines for 500,000 children.
- At machines in 107 cities, 490,000 donations were made by 850,000 visitors supporting 450 nonprofit organizations.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said the initiative will continue in 2025.
SALT LAKE CITY — People around the world provided 2 million meals, vaccines for 500,000 children and donated 106,000 chickens, goats and beehives to provide food and jobs for thousands of families and villagers.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday it received 490,000 donations from 850,000 visitors to its annual Light the World Giving Machines in 107 different cities during the Christmas season in November and December.
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles called the initiative a "living miracle."
"This is such a beautiful and poignant way for the world to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and follow his example of love and service," he said in a statement.
This year, the machines spanned 13 countries and five continents — including the first machines in Asia, Africa and North Pole, Alaska.
Since the Light the World Giving Machine initiative began in 2017, people have donated nearly $50 million. After the 2023 season, the church said it had collected over $32 million through the initiative.
"Every donation, large or small, is for someone they'll never meet but to whom they will always be connected," the church said in a statement.
For one small village in Mozambique, donations to giving machines have helped provide access to clean, running water at a clinic where pregnant mothers once had to bring water to the clinic and boil it while giving birth.
"Washing my baby with clean water ensured he would not get sick. It gave me great peace of mind. It is wonderful having clean water here. To the person who made this possible, thank you," one woman said after delivering her first child.
The iconic giving machines have become family traditions for many, the church said, and all who come find connection and experience the Savior's love.
In addition to the meals, vaccines, animals and beehives:
- 125,000 refugees will receive emergency food boxes.
- 48,000 people will receive needed clothing.
- 43,000 people will receive school supplies or other school assistance.
- 14,000 refugees and girls will receive hygiene kits.
- 10,200 families will receive groceries for a month.
These items will get to the people who need them through the 450 nonprofits that participated in the initiative — more organizations than each of the other seven years of the initiative combined.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all operating expenses so 100% of the donations go to the organizations. Each participating organization agrees to use no more than 10% of the money for administrative purposes.
The church said the giving machine initiative will continue during the 2025 Christmas season. Until then, the Giving Machine initiative's website will continue to share stories of how the donations are changing lives.
