The Light the World Giving Machine is back in Indiana
One Indiana location. Carmel, next to the Christkindlmarkt. November 18, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Open 24 hours a day.
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Why we do this
The purpose of the Giving Machine
Give as many adults, teens, and children as possible an uplifting, fun, memorable donation experience at the machine.
Support central Indiana and global charities by donating the specific items the people they serve actually need.
Help as many people as possible in Indiana and around the world, working alongside our partner charities.
Say it plainly: this is not a traditional fundraiser. It is a donation experience.
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Background
From one machine to six continents
Light the World is the global Christmas initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It invites everyone to give of themselves to lift and serve others.
A Giving Machine is a vending machine that works in reverse: a fun, memorable way to help someone across town or around the world.
It started with a single machine in 2017. The 2025 season reached 126 cities in 21 countries on six continents.
Test video and audio before the meeting that precedes yours.
No internet in the building? Download the video ahead of time and test playback.
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Open the floor
Discussion questions
Have any adults here donated at a Giving Machine? What was the experience like?
How about teens and children — what was it like for you?
How can we, as adults, teens, and children, support this initiative?
What have you learned about posting your Giving Machine experience on social media?
Have you talked about the Giving Machine with friends? How did it go?
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2026 Indiana venue
Carmel, next to the Christkindlmarkt
Carmel City Center and Carter Green, along the Monon Trail between the Hotel Carmichael and the Palladium.
November 18, 2026 – January 3, 2027. Open 24 hours a day, every day.
Nov. 18 machine opens · Nov. 21 public grand opening and Christkindlmarkt opening day. Committee kickoff date and time to be announced.
This changed. 2025 had three Indiana locations — Christkindlmarkt, Clay Terrace, and Bloomington. 2026 has one Indiana location. If your group is going, Carmel is the trip.
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How it works
A vending machine that works in reverse
The machine runs 24/7 from November 18, 2026 through January 3, 2027.
Local and global nonprofits offer specific items their people need: food, education, clothing, medical care, shelter, and more.
Visitors choose items and pay at the machine. A card representing each item drops into the display bin, and a digital receipt follows.
Every donation is a moment when a Hoosier reaches out to lift someone they will never meet, but will always feel connected to.
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What's inside
Giving Machine items often include
Food — meals, groceries, produce
Shelter and emergency housing
Clean, accessible water
Clothing and shoes
Beds, bedding, and blankets
Personal hygiene kits
Educational assistance
Healthcare and dental services
Job and career training
Farming resources
Chickens, goats, pigs, and beehives
Transportation and fuel
2026 Indiana item prices range from $5 to $200.
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Where the money goes
Donation fulfillment
Each nonprofit receives an itemized list of donor purchases for fulfillment.
100% of all donations go directly to the selected charities. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all operational costs.
Participating charities may use up to 10% of received funds for their own overhead.
If an item substitution becomes necessary, the nonprofit replaces it with another item or service in the same category.
The Church receives no financial benefit. The Giving Machine is not a proselyting effort.
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2026 partners
Five local charities
Christamore HouseBaby wipes ($7) · Infant formula ($50) · Car seat ($60) · IndyGo bus pass ($28) · Incontinence support ($20)
Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank12 dozen eggs ($10) · Pantry staples ($15) · Produce box ($20) · School break meals ($40) · At-home meals ($75)
The Julian CenterOral hygiene kits ($5) · Emergency shelter toys ($15) · Diapers ($30) · Bedding and linens ($50) · Crisis support ($200)
Wish for Our HeroesDay of meals ($10) · Winter gear ($15) · Gasoline ($50) · Relocation assistance ($75) · Home heating ($100)
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2026 partners
Two global charities
Water for GoodClean water in the Central African Republic. Water pump repair ($9) · Village water treatment ($45) · Family hygiene training ($75)
Mentors InternationalMicroloans, mentoring, and business training. Cooking business kit ($40) · Two chickens ($20)
The lineup is new this year. Do not reuse last season's charity list or item cards.
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By the numbers
The 2025 season worldwide
Nearly 1MPeople who visited a Giving Machine
126Cities in 21 countries, six continents
4.8MItems purchased
The initiative began in 2017. Indiana is part of that story.
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Indiana, 2023–2025
What Hoosiers have already done
32,500Estimated visitors across three seasons
$572K+In donated goods and services
Nearly +40%Visitor growth in 2025 over 2024
39,000+Items donated in 2025 alone
The Carmel Christkindlmarkt location drove the growth: 62% of all 2025 transactions, and volunteers reported roughly nine in ten visitors there were experiencing a Giving Machine for the first time.
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Getting the word out
How people find out about us
Local news coverage — WRTV, WISH-TV, WTHR, Current Publishing, the Hamilton County Reporter, and IndyToday.
Feature stories on individual charity partners, plus radio interviews and a season radio campaign.
Paid advertising in print, digital, and out-of-home.
Daily social media through the season, with events and entertainment on site at the machine.
Your members can perform. We have an open invitation for vocalists, instrumentalists, actors, character performers, and balloon artists. A new performer signup form is not yet available; contact the committee to express interest.
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Before you go
Plan your visit
Pick your date. The machine runs November 18 through January 3, all day, every day.
Consider a quiet day. The machine remains open when the Christkindlmarkt is closed. Free parking is available in nearby garages. Check the market calendar when planning your visit.
Review the items in advance so you know what you want to give. Involve the whole family in choosing.
Bring a card. The machine takes debit, credit, and mobile payments. No cash.
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Come be part of it
Join the Giving Machine events
Committee kickoff — date and time to be announced.
November 21 — public grand opening, the day the Christkindlmarkt opens.
Live music, performances, and special events run all season long.
Watch the social pages for the full calendar as dates are confirmed.
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Call to action
Three ways to make a difference
Visit and donate. Every adult, teen, and child. If you are close by, go more than once.
Invite people. Family, friends, neighbors, coworkers. At the 2025 Christkindlmarkt location, volunteers reported that roughly nine in ten visitors were experiencing a Giving Machine for the first time — the invitation is the whole job.
Share it on social media using #GivingMachineIndy, and follow the Giving Machine Indiana pages from your personal accounts.
