The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is expanding its efforts to #LightTheWorld during the Christmas season by encouraging people to donate items for the needy at special vending machines throughout the world.
“Each year, during the holiday season, people around the globe have found countless ways to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Elder Brent H. Nielson, a senior leader for the Church. “We are excited to offer new opportunities this Christmas to spread joy, hope and love in a world that needs the light of Christ.”
The popular #LightTheWorld campaign asks people to take the 25 days leading up to Christmas and turn it into a season of service, lifting and helping others in small and simple ways. As part of this campaign, Giving Machines – essentially large, red vending machines – will be placed in five locations throughout the world to provide a way for people to give an instant act of service.
These machines will be located in Salt Lake City, Utah; Gilbert, Arizona; New York, New York; London, England; and Manila, Philippines. People will be able to purchase a variety of items to donate through partner charities such as CARE, UNICEF, WaterAid, and Water For People.
In Manila, the Giving Machines will be located in SM Megamall Building A, Upper Ground Floor, Edsa Entrance and will be available from November 23 to December 31 during mall hours.
The Church is partnering with three local organization in the Giving Machines Project. These are Caritas Manila, UNICEF Philippines and Purple Centers Foundation.
Caritas Manila is a non-profit organization that serves as the lead social service and development ministry of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. It is geared towards total human development and poverty alleviation and advocates creating a Christian community with a strong social conscience.
UNICEF is an agency of the United Nations devoted to serving the world's children. UNICEF began providing assistance to the Philippines in November 1948. It aims to provide the best quality of life for every Filipino child through programs that help them survive and flourish. Their programs include education, health and nutrition, disaster risk reduction and emergencies, HIV and AIDS prevention, child protection, communication, and local policy and institutional development.
The Purple Centers Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2003 which provides education, nutrition, healthcare, and social services to underprivileged children and families from the garbage reclamation communities that surround Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila, as well as children living in the Navotas public cemetery, the relocation communities of Bulacan and the Irisan dumpsite in Baguio.
Items available for purchase include food, clothing, medicine, hygiene supplies, wheelchairs, sporting equipment, and livestock.
Last year’s single Giving Machine in Salt Lake City resulted in more than $550,000 raised for local and global charities.
The Giving Machines will open on the following dates and locations:
• Manila – November 23 (SM Mega Mall Building A)
• New York – November 26 (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple)
• Salt Lake City – November 28 (Joseph Smith Memorial Building)
• Gilbert: November 29 (Water Tower Plaza)
• London: November 30 (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Hyde Park Visitors Center)
The machines will be available throughout the Christmas season. One hundred percent of all donations go directly to partner charities for the purchased item or for items or services of greater need based on their discretion.
One hundred percent (100%) of the donation will be used for the purchased item or for similar items or services of greater need as determined by the applicable charitable organization. Administrative costs for this campaign are covered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.