Celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ by Helping Those in Need Around the World

Each Christmas season, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Light the World Giving Machine initiative offers a meaningful way to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by helping those in need. Whether it’s beehives for a family in Kenya or a warm blanket for a child in your own city, these tangible gifts turn generosity into joy.

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This December, Giving Machine kiosks will be hosted in 126 cities, in 21 countries and on six continents — including the first in South America. New international countries this year include Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Italy, Japan, Spain and Thailand.

Each customized machine is stocked with tangible items and services to help people in need — nearby or across the world — providing a meaningful and memorable way to show love and extend hope to individuals and families.

This year, more than 4,000 items will be available worldwide from over 500 local nonprofit organizations, including these twelve global participants:

1. American Red Cross
2. Care
3. Church World Service
4. Days for Girls International
5. Lifting Hands International
6. Mentors International
7. Right to Play
8. Special Olympics
9. Splash
10. USA for UNHCR
11. UNICEF
12. Water for Good

Instead of purchasing candy or snacks from a vending machine, people buy goods and services to support those in need. It’s a machine that enables a person to give — rather than receive. Items vary by city, but a typical machine includes food, clean water, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education support, hygiene kits, bedding, job and career training, and even livestock such as chickens, goats, pigs and beehives.

Tiffany Larson, CEO of Days for Girls International, was present for a media event at the Conference Center on Temple Square on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, where the season’s Giving Machine host cities were announced. She shared a story of a 15-year-old girl in Nepal who benefited from a Giving Machine gift of a feminine hygiene kit.

“These cards in the machine might just look like cards, but they’re giving back girls dignity and health and opportunity,” said Larson, whose organization alleviates period poverty for women.

Ana Peña of Mentors International’s leadership team shared a story of a woman in Nicaragua who started a business thanks to a Giving Machine gift of chickens.

“We have thousands of stories like that of families that have started businesses thanks to these gifts,” Peña said. “I have visited so many of them, and they’re so, so grateful for the initiative and the families that come out and buy these gifts for them.”

Newsroom Light the World: 490,000 Donations in 2024 Bring Hope to Many Worldwide

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all operating costs, ensuring that 100% of each donation goes directly to the participating nonprofits. The Church does not receive any financial benefit from this initiative.

Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman said Wednesday that her family has donated through Giving Machine kiosks every year since 2017. And every year they have donated chickens.

“It’s so fun to think about how what begins as a three-to-five-minute experience in front of one of these machines turned into a lifetime change for a family or even just one young woman,” President Freeman said. “That’s such an amazing and remarkable thing for all of us to be able to participate in.”

Sister Kristin M. Yee of the Relief Society General Presidency spoke of the importance of the many nonprofits the Church is serving with to make these good things happen.

“We have so many wonderful participating nonprofits that are part of this work,” Sister Yee said. “We are so grateful to work with them in this effort. There are many hands that are part of this. We cannot do this on our own. It’s only together that we can do this. Whether we’re a nonprofit or just an individual, we can have the opportunity to help and offer acts of kindness and help move goods to those in need.”

When donations are transferred to each nonprofit organization, the Church also provides an itemized list of purchases, ensuring that every donor’s gift is delivered. These organizations have 12 months to fulfill those orders. Nonprofits can use up to 10% of their Giving Machine receipts for overhead costs, but most choose to use much less or none.

Since 2017, nearly US$50 million has been donated through the Giving Machine initiative.

Elders Matthew S. Holland and W. Mark Bassett of the Seventy also shared thoughts at Wednesday’s event. Both emphasized that the Giving Machine initiative is grounded in Jesus Christ.

“In John 8:12 we read, ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life,’” said Elder Holland, who serves as executive director of the Church Communication Department. “Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. When we focus our Christmas activities on Him and give gifts of love and service as He did, we fill the world with more light. As we share abundantly with others, we experience an abundance of light and joy in our hearts and homes. This is the true Christmas experience.”

“Jesus Christ is the Light of the World,” added Elder Bassett, who is executive director of the Church’s Missionary Department. “He has asked us, commanded us, pled with us to love one another. This is just one way that we can love our neighbors. Might we do so this Christmas season as we remember the birth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.”