‘Light the World Giving Machines’ Is Back To Bring Joy This Christmas

The Christmas season can be made more meaningful by being more giving in every way we can. Despite the challenges that we faced in recent years, there has been better development with our lives, and we can now go out more and slowly everything is getting back to normal. And for this upcoming holiday, the vending machines for charity or ‘Light the World Giving Machines’ is back in the Philippines to invite the public to participate in this one-of-a-kind fund raising that will benefit various beneficiaries.

This project is a global initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which also had this project in several countries that also links people in cities to the communities they support. A very fitting gesture to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ which is what Christmas is all about.

These Giving Machines are vending machines that offer various items such as food, hygiene kits, educational materials and resources, water treatment, emergency and repair kits, vitamins, eyeglasses, medical kits, gardening tools, and psychosocial support.

This year, more people than ever can participate as Giving Machines expand to 28 locations including the United States, Mexico, Australia, Canada, Guatemala, and the Philippines. As part of the #LightTheWorld initiative, people will have the chance to provide an instant act of service at special vending machines called Giving Machines.

The Light the World giving machines started in 2018 in Manila and continued annually even during the pandemic with donations given directly by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to nonprofit organizations. The Church covers all operational costs, ensuring that 100% of every donation goes to the charitable cause of your choice.

Each Christmas, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrates the birth and life of Jesus Christ through the #LightTheWorld initiative. The initiative asks people to follow the example of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, by caring for individuals one by one throughout the month of December.

Each Giving Machine will offer much-needed items for purchase from a variety of local and global charity partners. All donations will be accounted for by the vending machines, with the exact amount purchased going to each charity. 

100 percent 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 initiative are covered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 2021, the #LightTheWorld Giving Machines in 10 locations raised more than $5.8 million for local and global charities.  In Manila, due to the pandemic and local restrictions, direct donations were given to Caritas Manila (Php 500K), UNICEF Phils (Php 500K), and HERO Fdn (Php 250K).

The giving machines in Manila were recently launched at Festival Mall Alabang in Muntinlupa City while the giving machines in Cebu are set to be hosted and officially launched at Ayala Center Cebu in Cebu City on November 25, 2022.People can donate to the giving machines from the time of the launch until January 1, 2023 during mall hours.

As the Philippines expands to Cebu this year, so does the number of participating nonprofit organizations. Six local nonprofits will join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to care for and serve people in need. This year’s participants are:

Manila

• Caritas Manila
• HERO Foundation, Inc.
• UNICEF Philippines

Cebu

• Cebu Caritas (special project of Caritas Manila)
• Feed the Children, Inc.
• Mabuhay Deseret Foundation, Inc.

As this unique kind of sharing is again brought to the public, it will indeed raise awareness for giving and get to know the charities that they support. Check out the ‘Light the World Giving Machines at Festival Mall Alabang and Ayala Center Cebu and make more people feel your love this Christmas.