LOGAN – Christmas is the season people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and one way to spread His light, and love, is by giving to the Logan Light the World Giving Machine.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said the initiative has evolved into more than just a seasonal campaign with a holiday message. It has raised over $32 million, involving nearly 2 million donors across the globe.
“It is a call to action worldwide,” he said. “The program’s mission to spread kindness, service, and love.”
In Cache Valley, a small committee was formed to find a place for the machine to be set up and organize a program to introduce it to the public.
Sadie Mortensen will perform on Dec. 16, during the ceremony to introduce the Light of the World Giving Machine.
“The vending machines will be in service from December 16 to January 1, 2025, giving users an opportunity to donate a variety of much-needed items to local and global charities,” said Craig Dunkley, a member of the committee. “Giving Machines this year will be located near 55 West Center on the east side of Great Harvest Bread Company and Bakery.”
The Latter-day Saint church sponsors the vending machines in 106 locations and 13 different countries around the world during the 2024 holiday season.
To introduce the machines, the committee recruited some local talent to entertain the crowd and bring in the Christmas Spirit.
Robert Linton will show his unique guitar skills for the introduction of The Light the World Giving Machine on Dec. 16.
Sadie Mortenson, a well-known local musician who sings and plays the guitar, will perform.
Christina Edlund, who has sung around the valley at different events for some 15 years, will also be there to bring in the Christmas season with her voice. Robert Linton will also be on hand to play his guitar for those gathered.
Logan’s Giving Machines will allow residents to donate items like clean water, seeds, trees, sewing machines, medicine and even chickens, goats for and hope for people who want to change their lives.
Christina Edlund will perform on Dec. 16 when the Light the World Giving Machine is introduced in Logan.
‘Light the World’ is an annual Christmas initiative, and it is an opportunity for all people, faiths and charities to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be a light to others during the Christmas season. One hundred percent of all donations go directly to the organization listed on the machines.
A list of local groups that will benefit from this year’s initiative will be found on row six of the machines. They are:
● Cache Employment and Training Center
● Neighborhood Non-profit and Housing Group
● English Language Center
● Cache Valley Hope for Cancer
● Common Ground Outdoor Adventures
● iDe Global and Save the Children
Giving Machines provide an instant act of service for people looking to help those in their community as well as around the world. Visitors can make donations by purchasing items ranging in price from $5 to $100.
Visitors could even purchase one of every item in the machine by typing in 777.
Volunteers will be on hand to help guide the public on how to navigate the machines. Donations can also be made at lighttheworld.org/give for those not able to come to the machines in person.
Since inception in 2017, hundreds of thousands of people have donated over $33 million in goods and services to care for those in need around the block or around the world.
Besides the one in Logan, there are four other places people can participate in changing the world through this initiative.
Five of those will be in Utah at the following locations:
- In Salt Lake City by the food court at City Creek Center, open from Nov. 25 to Jan. 1.
- In Orem at University Place Mall, open from Nov. 25 to Jan. 3.
- In Ogden inside the amphitheater at Christmas Village at 343 25th Street, open from Dec. 3 to Dec. 14.
- In St. George at the center court of the Red Cliffs Mall, open from Nov. 18 to Nov. 30.
The Light the World Giving Machines have some 1,200 different items to choose from.
In 2022, the vending machines made a difference by providing a variety of needs including 2.2 million meals; 31 million water purification tablets (enough to purify 3.9 million gallons of water); vaccinations for 517,000 children; 41,000 chickens; school supplies for 28,000 children; 25,000 ducks; safe shelter for 3,400 people; scholarships for 3,000 children and teens; shoes, socks and warm winter clothing for 35,000 children and adults; 3,800 beehives; and, the protection of 459 women and children from further domestic violence or child abuse.