The following is excerpted from the Church News. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
An enthusiastic crowd welcomed the opening of the iconic red Giving Machines in the west wing of University Place in Orem, Utah, on Tuesday night, Nov. 23. After a COVID-19 pandemic-caused pause last year, the popular way to donate to charitable causes is now back for the 2021 Christmas season.
“Let’s light the world!” sang the Bonner Family from a stage full of wrapped presents, garlands and decorated lighted Christmas trees. “The time is now to walk with Him in goodness,” they sang.
Then local dignitaries, charity sponsors and officials from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints helped unwrap the machines and made the first purchases.
Elder Vaiangina Sikahema, a General Authority Seventy, helped his granddaughter buy chickens to go to a family in need in another country. He said it was an easy first choice.
“As a boy in Tonga, we ate chicken for Christmas. So I figured, someone could get three chickens — and it’s a good price, too,” he said.
Giving Machines have raised almost $9 million for charities since they first were unveiled in 2017. Elder Sikahema says that giving spirit is at the very essence of what it means to be a Christian.
“We encourage people to ‘light the world,’” said Elder Sikahema.
To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
