‘Light the World’ Giving Machines unveiled at Ogden Christmas Village
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- “Light the World” Giving Machines were unveiled at Ogden’s Christmas Village on Dec. 3, 2024.
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- One of the cottages on display at Ogden’s Christmas Village, photographed on Dec. 3, 2024.
OGDEN — From now until Dec. 15, people who live and work in the Ogden area will have an opportunity to give to those in need with just a swipe of their debit or credit card and a few button punches.
With the holiday season now in full effect, “Light the World” Giving Machines have made their annual return to cities around the world. The reverse vending machines, sponsored since 2017 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, allow users to purchase items for others through various charitable organizations.
On Tuesday evening, machines placed in Ogden’s Christmas Village at Municipal Gardens were unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the amphitheater area.
“Over 2 million people have participated in it and over $32 million has been donated in-kind or through product,” Timothy Farnes, an Area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said of the program during the ceremony. “Only 100 cities in the world have machines and Ogden City is one of them. So, you should feel very proud about who you are to draw this kind of opportunity to your community.”
The three machines currently on-site will remain there until they move to Logan later this month. They’ll be available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to midnight on weekends through Dec. 15.
Jennie Taylor — Gold Star widow of former North Ogden mayor and Utah Army National Guard Major Brent Taylor — noted during the ceremony that her first encounter with a machine at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City shortly after her husband’s death was impactful during a particularly trying time.
“Instead of getting a candy bar for my little girl, I think we bought a chicken for someone, somewhere, speaking a language I don’t know, in a country I will probably never visit,” Taylor said. “And I was filled with gratitude for the carton of eggs at home in my fridge and the fact that I didn’t have to wait for someone to swipe their card to send me a chicken to have a way to live and feed my family. I will tell you that gratitude had a wonderful effect to soften my grief.”
While Giving Machines benefit people around the world, Ogden’s machines will be used to provide for those in need locally.
Local nonprofit beneficiaries include Catholic Community Services, the YCC Family Crisis Center, the Midtown Community Health Center, the Ogden School Foundation and the Weber School Foundation.
“This year, we get to spread the light to the world — the light of Jesus Christ, the light of Christmas — by helping people here at home,” Taylor said. “You don’t have to go to a big inner city, you don’t have to go to another country or continent, to find need.”
Those who are unable to visit the machines in person can make donations online at https://lighttheworld.org/give/.
The Christmas Village itself is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday through Jan. 1. Live entertainment and activities will also be featured until Dec. 23.
