SAFFORD — Rain may have moved the ceremony, but it couldn’t put a damper on the spirit.
The Light of the World Giving Machines were opened to the Gila Valley on Saturday.
A ceremony highlighting the local nonprofit organizations that will benefit from the machines had to be moved from the lawn in front of Safford City Hall to the Safford Library programming room due to the rain, which resulted in a room packed with people ready to give and make a difference.
Options include donating to Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry.
“We’ve had a lot of great meetings so far and everyone is overjoyed to be a part of this. We thank you from the bottom of hearts,” said Kai Littrell, executive director for Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry.
Another local nonprofit that can be helped through the Giving Machines is Mt. Graham Safe House.
“We are so thankful to be a part of this program, and every little bit that you guys do helps immensely to our program” said Mallory Redmond with Safe House.
Other nonprofits involved in the Giving Machines that serve Graham and Greenlee counties include the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and Special Olympics of Arizona, while Peace Through Music International and International Rescue Committee serve all of Arizona.
Quoting the opening prayer offered by Pastor Kevin West of True Hope Fellowship, Broc Hiatt, with Area 70 with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, “’We ask that the love will come forth, that you have planted in our hearts.’ That’s what the Giving Machines are all about.”
Following a performance by Fifth and Sixth Grade School Choirs, those wishing to brave the rain went back to City Hall to watch Tanayia White and her daughter, Tahleeni, cut the Graham County Chamber of Commerce ribbon and make the first official charitable giving purchase, helping Special Olympics Arizona.
“It’s the spirit of giving, and helping the community, whether it’s the local community, regional, state or national,” Tanayia said.
The Gila Valley is the second stop of three for the machines in Arizona this holiday season. The machines were in Flagstaff Nov. 17 through Dec. 1, will be in Safford Dec. 3-15, and finish in Tucson Dec. 17 through Jan. 1.
The machines are an initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and started in 2017 in four cities — Manila, Philippines; London, England; Salt Lake City and Gilbert. This year, the machines will be in 28 cities in North America, the Philippines and Australia; with nine additional cities seeing the mobile machines.
