Lighting the World Through Giving: How Donations in 2025 Are Making a Difference

During the 2025 Christmas season, bright-red Light the World Giving Machine kiosks once again invited Canadians to experience meaningful giving. Thousands of visitors from across Canada participated in the Light the World initiative, turning everyday acts of generosity into support for individuals and families both close to home and around the world.

First introduced in Canada in 2022, the initiative has continued to grow. In 2025, Giving Machine kiosks were available in six Canadian cities — Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Lethbridge, Laval and Montréal — creating welcoming, volunteer-led spaces where visitors could donate essential items to charitable partners.

At seven locations nationwide, 100,000 items were donated to support 25 Canadian and two global non-profit organizations. Donated items included hot meals, fresh produce, water purification tablets, toys, hygiene kits and vaccinations, totalling $400,000 in value, directed to those in need.

At the launch of the Giving Machine kiosk in Vancouver, British Columbia, Elder D. Martin Goury of the Canada Area Presidency said, “These unique Giving Machines provide opportunities for us to help those who stand in need. … We learn from the scriptures that ‘by small and simple things’ great things are brought to pass (Alma 37:6). We have seen with Giving Machines, many people around the world have been helped. Their lives have been changed, and they have received sufficient help to have the light of Christ in their lives.”

A Simple Experience With Lasting Impact

Inside each Giving Machine kiosk, visitors encountered a simple but powerful experience. Rather than donating money alone, donors selected specific items — such as meals, clean water, clothing, educational materials, health-care supplies and even baby chicks — each representing real support for real people. For many donors, the act of choosing an item creates a deeper connection to the cause and a clearer understanding of how their gift helps others.

Three factors continue to contribute significantly to the success of the Light the World Giving Machine initiative. First, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all operational expenses, ensuring that 100% of donated funds go directly to non-profit partners. Second, participating organizations undergo a rigorous vetting process and may not use more than 10% of what they receive for administrative costs. Third, in each city where machines are placed, hundreds of volunteers serve on planning committees or as on-site hosts, welcoming visitors and guiding them through the giving experience.

Leah Mills, a member of the Lethbridge Alberta Young Single Adult Stake, volunteered at the Lethbridge Giving Machine alongside her friend Rebekah Tustian. During their shift, they were paired with volunteers from Family Centre, one of the non-profit organizations featured in the Lethbridge Giving Machine.

Mills described learning about the comprehensive range of services Family Centre provides to children, youth and families in southwestern Alberta. “[The Family Centre volunteers] were sharing their experiences with us and how much the donations would help the community,” said Mills. She further expressed: “[I have] joy in knowing that working together, we could help and serve the community. It brings us out of the mess of life and helps us connect with the things that really matter.”

Jacquelin Green, executive director of Saanich Neighbourhood Place in Victoria, British Columbia, said, “It was a true joy to work with the dedicated volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their kindness, efficiency and how they lived out shared values of community care and generosity of spirit made the whole experience very special.”

Impact in Canada

The generosity of Canadians through the 2025 Giving Machine season is making a meaningful difference in communities across the country. The following were the top six donated items in 2025:

• 4,760 baby chicks
• 13,282 hot meals
• 31,261 water purification tablets
• 3,818 toys for children
• 7,950 litres of milk
• 2,132 weeks of food

Community organizations said the donations offer more than material support — they strengthen dignity, hope and long-term resilience.

Green noted: “[Donations to Saanich Neighbourhood Place] provide healthy snacks for the children who attend our programs, support men in jail who want to learn to be better parents [and] help new moms with post-partum essentials and mental health support, to name a few [impacts].” She emphasized, “Individuals and families will be supported to thrive, rather than just survive.”

A Growing Global Movement

While the Giving Machine kiosks had a strong presence in Canada, their expanding global reach led to the placement of new kiosks in Bangkok, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Rome, Santiago, São Paulo, Tokyo and Vienna, introducing the experience to people across Asia, Europe and South America.

Since the first Giving Machine appeared in 2017, approximately US$70 million (CA$97.5 million) has been donated through the initiative worldwide. These contributions have supported millions of individuals by addressing immediate needs while also strengthening long-term self-reliance.

During the 2025 Giving Machine season, more than 500 non-profit organizations participated globally, offering over 3,200 different items for donation. As these gifts are delivered in the coming months, their collective impact will be substantial:

• 3.5 million meals will help feed those experiencing hunger
• 500,000 children will receive lifesaving vaccinations against preventable diseases, such as polio, measles and tetanus
• 350,000 months of menstrual-hygiene care will support the dignity and health of women and girls
• 108,000 individuals will receive essential clothing, including shoes, coats and school uniforms
• 97,000 books, school supplies and technology resources will support education for tens of thousands of children
• 40,000 hygiene kits will provide cleanliness and confidence to students, refugees and shelter residents

The Light the World Giving Machine initiative will continue during the 2026 Christmas season. Until then, learn more about the impact of Canadian Giving Machines at the following links:

Giving Machine Victoria, British Columbia

Giving Machine Vancouver, British Columbia

Giving Machine Calgary, Alberta

Giving Machine Lethbridge, Alberta

Giving Machine Montréal, Quebec (EN)

Montréal Machine à Dons (FR)

Learn more about the global impact at GivingMachine.org, or follow @givingmachine on Instagram and @officiallighttheworldgivingmachine on Facebook.