The Rexburg Chamber of Commerce organized a celebration at Hemming Village bringing together local businesses and five charities to welcome the arrival of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Giving Machine on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

The event kicked off the Light The World campaign this year. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized the Light the World campaign in 2019. It was formed for one purpose: to help people find and give the light of Christ to everyone.

As a part of the campaign, the Church released Giving Machines. Instead of a normal vending machine, the money deposited into the Giving Machine will be donated to a charity of your choice. Things made possible by donations include beds, food, gas for rides to get people out of abusive situations and more.

The Giving Machine in Rexburg will have five local charities as options for donations.

"We have Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership, the Family Crisis Center, the Idaho Falls Humanitarian Center, the Ronald McDonald House of Idaho, and then we have the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission," said Brett Crandall, the City Lead for the Giving Machine in Rexburg. "And then there's also a couple of international charities that will have items in the machine as well."

According to Marie Harris, the financial and development coordinator at the Family Crisis Center, they are excited for the Giving Machine to be coming to Rexburg.

"After the giving machines, we'll use the funds that have been donated for specific items and give items to our community members who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. And so that's what the Family Crisis Center does."

The Giving Machine will be available for the community to donate to from Dec. 1 to 14. This is to help the students of BYU-Idaho donate and be a part of the Light The World Campaign before their semester ends on Dec. 17.

To learn more about Light The World and its Giving Machines, click here.