Charity, Government and Religious Leaders Join Together to 'Light the World' in Perth

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On 5 October 2024, local community leaders and charity partners came together for a dinner to start this Year’s Light the World “Giving Machine” initiative in Western Australia.

The Giving Machines are a vending machine that combines kindness with convenience.  The bright red machines are redefining philanthropy by offering an easy and interactive way for the public to support a variety of charities with just a simple tap.

In Western Australia, the Giving Machines will be supporting the following charities: Care Bags, Foodbank WA, The Spiers Centre, No Limits, UNICEF, and Youth Futures.

City of Joondalup Mayor, Honourable Albert Jacob, and his wife Cecylia Jacob attended the event.

Mayor Jacob thanked The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their community involvement and for their volunteers.

“The Giving Machines provide an opportunity to demonstrate to the next generation the act of giving,” he said. “We can donate online but going to a vending machine is a physical act that has greater meaning.”

Ian De Nazareth of Foodbank WA, said, “Australia is the lucky country, and Western Australia is the wealthiest state in Australia. However, we still have thousands of households that are food deprived and lacking basic essentials due to the cost-of-living crisis. The Giving Machines help reach those families so that they can fulfil basic life functions, such as being able to concentrate and learn at school.”  

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Also attending were Michael Sutherland OAM and his wife Michelle Sutherland, Councillor for City of Bayswater; Maryka Groenewald, WA State Director for Australia Christians; Rabbi Sheryl Nosan; Pastor Loren Pratt, Seventh-day Adventist Church; and Elder Craig Raeside, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder Raeside thanked everyone involved for their participation and provided an example of how the Saviour, Jesus Christ, blessed and served those around Him. He went on to say, “Great blessings arise from being able to work with other organisations to provide services that we cannot do ourselves, as a church.”

There was a wonderful spirit of unity throughout the night and many guests enjoyed the warmth of friendship and common cause that brought them together.