On Nov. 13, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the 106 locations of the Light the World Giving Machines for the 2024 Christmas season and the testing of new digital machines in Orem.
This record-breaking number of machine locations almost doubles last year’s which was 61, according to the Church. The number of locations worldwide has increased exponentially since the initiative began, from only one machine in 2017, to five in 2018, ten in 2019 and 2021, 28 in 2022, 61 in 2023 and 106 in 2024.
The lineup of locations for 2024 includes the first machine in Africa — Nairobi, Kenya — and the first in a mainland Asia — Hong Kong, China. Light the World Giving Machines will spread across 13 countries and 33 states within the United States, according to the Church.
“It was only eight years ago that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints extended an invitation to ‘light the world’ during the Christmas season,” Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve said at the announcement of this year’s giving machines which took place in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. “This invitation followed the example of He, whom we call the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, who taught us to love and to serve others.”
Elder Stevenson said the Light the World initiative is a call to action, inviting individuals to share light, love, kindness and service.
“Just as angels declared words of great joy at His birth, we too — in our own small way, gift by gift — can be angels in the lives of others as we extend the love of Jesus Christ to people near and far and as we proclaim a witness of the Savior of the world.”
Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson said the machines will offer items such as meals, clean water, shelter, healthcare and other resources that individuals can donate. Since their launch in 2017, the machines have collected more than $32 million worth of charitable items from nearly two million donors worldwide.
President Johnson also noted 100% of proceeds from the machines are donated to the nonprofit organizations involved in the initiative. To ensure this, the Church covers all expenses needed to fund the Light the World program. At the end of the year, each nonprofit organization will report on the donation funds that have been used and recount stories of how the funds have blessed the lives of others.
According to the Church, more than 500 nonprofit organizations will be involved in the machines this year. Representatives of a few of those charities, including Days for Girls International, Lifting Hands International, Academy for Creating Enterprise and Mentors International attended the announcement.
“From Hong Kong to Kansas City, millions of people are part of this exchange of goodwill and kindness,” President Johnson said.
She also presented a video showing how the Kansas City Chiefs, including celebrity football players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, support Light the World and invite individuals to visit the machine in Kansas City, Missouri.
Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary General Presidency, also presented videos with stories of how the Light the World Giving Machines have blessed the lives of people across the world.
The beehive donations have helped the people of Tana River, Kenya, build their community and contribute to their children’s future education. The milk goat donations have given Syrian refugees in Madaba, Jordan, a source of income. More giving machine stories can be found on the Light the World website.
“The focus is about blessing individuals and families, giving them tools and resources that enable them to ultimately help themselves and those within their community,” Sister Wright said. “Jesus Christ admonished, ‘As I have loved you, love one another.’ One of the greatest manifestations of His love is when we do something for someone that they cannot do for themselves.”
Elder Takashi Wada of the Seventy demonstrated how to use the new digital machines that will be available at the locations in Orem, Utah, and Sacramento, California in the U.S. The donation items appear on a screen instead of as physical cards.
One of these digital machines can already be found in Christchurch, New Zealand. This machine will spend two weeks there before moving to Wellington, then on to Hamilton for two weeks each, according to a Light the World Giving Machines Instagram post.
“We must not forget that the purpose of it is again to remind us to follow the Savior Jesus Christ and also remember our fellow men. We want to love them and to give them what they need,” Elder Wada said. “This pilot testing, we hope to learn something from it and to see which version people might like, and we hope that they’ll find that this will be helpful.”
Each machine will only be available for a limited time. Those who wish to donate can find the nearest machine and when it will be available on the Church’s website.
The Orem location at University Place Mall will be open from Nov. 25 through Jan. 3, 2025, and the Salt Lake City location at City Creek Center Plaza will be open from Nov. 25 through Jan. 1, 2025.