Light the World

Local Mayors and charitable organization leaders cut the ribbon, officially opening Giving Machines 2021.

Photo by Robin Finlinson

By Emily Jex Boyle

Giving Machines Return to Arizona for 3rd Season

In November, Valley-wide city officials and heads of local charitable organizations gathered at the Gilbert Water Tower Plaza to celebrate the unwrapping of the popular Giving Machines for the 2021 holiday season. Weeks earlier, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced its annual Light the World Christmas initiative with the theme “Light the World with Love.”

For a third year, Giving Machines were available in ten cities across the United States during the season, offering people a vending machine-style opportunity to donate to local and global charities. Full-time missionaries of the Gilbert Arizona Mission volunteered at the locations.

Pleased to welcome the Giving Machines back to Downtown Gilbert, Mayor Brigette Peterson points out, “Typically a vending machine doesn’t offer things that are very good for you. These vending machines offer you the opportunity to come, give of your heart and to feed your own soul.”

Leaders from local charitable organizations like A New Leaf, AZ Brain Food, Catholic Charities Community Services, Child Crisis Arizona, St. Mary’s Food Bank and United Food Bank attended.

In 2019, the effort raised over 6.2 million dollars, $1.1 million in Arizona.

“It’s a wonderful day to come together as a community of towns, cities, donors, corporations, individuals.” expresses Torrie Taj, CEO of Child Crisis Arizona.

“In all the darkness, the light is going to shine brighter this year.” says Malissa Geer, Director of Community and Faith Engagement of Catholic Charities Community Services.

Reminded of the widow’s mite, Dave Richins, CEO of United Food Bank adds, “I think of people who are going to come here and donate a dollar or two, or five or ten..I really want to thank them because that collectively is what made those 1.2 million meals possible [in 2019].”

Elder Jonathan S. Schmitt, Area Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, explains, “This really is an amazing opportunity to positively impact and bless the lives of thousands here in Arizona and across the globe.” Speaking of the Church’s charitable partners, Schmitt continues, “We are thankful to be linked arm and arm in this effort.”

One hundred percent of the donations accounted for by the Giving Machines go to each charity and will be used for the purchased items.

Offering a blessing on the Giving Machines in her third year with the program, Sister Betty Benjamin Banja of Catholic Charities teaches, “God says, ‘Let there be light.’ And there was light. God is a God of Light in a world darkened by hatred, violence, greed and poverty. We are chosen today to take this light and shine it in the darkness. Different communities come together with love to love those who want to be loved. ”

Elder Schmitt extended an invitation to all, saying, “We invite you to Light the World with Love this Christmas season. We invite you to invite your friends, neighbors, coworkers, everyone to come. Here, we’re able to purchase items that will benefit those whom Jesus served in His life, those who were marginalized, those who were outcast, poor and needy.”

Visit www.LightTheWorld.org for more information.

Photo by Robin Finlinson The First Donation: The first Giving Machine 2021 donation made by local mayors.