December 12, 2025 through January 1, 2026
On the corner of 8th Avenue and Main Street in Safford
In front of City Hall
The Giving Machine will launch at 5:00 PM on Monday, December 12, 2025. There will be people available to help from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM each day the machine is here.
A special program to launch the Giving Machines in the Gila Valley is scheduled for Monday, December 2, 2024 at 5:00 pm in front of Safford City Hall, Main Street and 8th Avenue. The event will include:
4:30 Prerecorded videos of Giving Machine recipients starts
5:00 Program begins:
Master of Ceremony: Gary Sorensen welcomes, acknowledges special guests and dignitaries, and introduces program
Opening song: Gila Valley Children’s Chorale sings “If I were There”
Opening Prayer: Pastor Jeremy Scott of the MVMT Church
Introduction of Charity Speakers: Master of Ceremony Gary Sorensen
Local Charity speakers:
- Bonnie Dalzine “Our Neighbors Farm and Pantry”
- Linda Lopez “St. Vincent de Paul/ St. Rose of Lima Charity Conference”
- Stephanie Nabor “SEACUS”
State Charity speakers:
- Sophia Campbell “Arizona Friends of Foster Children”
- Tammy Abernethy “Hope Women’s Center”
Musical Number: Ron White and Tracy Brown “Oh Holy Night”
Keynote Speaker: Elder Todd D. Haynie
Closing Prayer: Pastor Sherry Brady United Methodist Church
After closing prayer, all are invited to stay seated while “We Three Kings” music plays and three wise men accompanied by angels cross the lawn under spot light and cut ribbon of the Giving Machines and make first donation and give briefly describe why they chose that particular donation.
About Light the World
Light the World is the annual Christmas initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the root of the initiative is an invitation for all to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be a light to others during the Christmas season. We are all invited to light the world by lifting and serving others in small and simple ways. One unique, fun, and memorable aspect of the Light the World initiative is the popular Giving Machines.
Overview of the Giving Machine
In 2017 the Giving Machine was born in response to a heartfelt question: “Can serving others be instant, fun, and memorable?” Legend has it that a man was pondering that question as he stood in front of a vending machine to purchase a snack. He had an epiphany: ‘What if we could build a vending machine to enable people to give to those in need?’
Since then, Light the World Giving Machines have appeared in cities across the globe, more than 100 cities actually, this year.
In the past few years, hundreds of thousands of people have donated $33 million in goods and services to care for those in need—around the block or around the world. These customized vending machines allow the public to donate necessary products and services to those in need worldwide.
Giving Machine items have included food, clean water, medical care, clothing, education support, hygiene kits, and even livestock, such as chickens, goats, pigs, and beehives.
100 % of every donation is given to the participating nonprofit organizations to purchase and deliver the donated item. This happens because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all Giving Machine operating costs.
This year’s charities include:
- SEACUS
- St Vincent De Paul Society
- Our Neighbors Farm & Pantry
- Hope Women’s Shelter
- Arizona Friends of Foster Care Children Foundation
- Church World Services
- Days for Girls
What is a Giving Machine?
Where does my money go?
How to Use a Giving Machine
Learn more at GivingMachine.org
