Ogden’s Christmas Village is already one of the brightest spots in Northern Utah’s holiday season. This year, there is a new way to make that glow reach even farther – through the Light the World Giving Machines that now feature Davis Education Foundation.
On Monday night, community members gathered for a ribbon cutting to officially launch the Giving Machines as part of the Christmas Village festivities. Nestled among nearly half a million lights and rows of storybook cottages, the machines turn a family outing into a chance to directly support students in our district, with choirs from Woods Cross High and Bountiful Junior High filling the plaza with carols and the mayor of Ogden and other community leaders sharing messages of generosity and hope.
How the Giving Machines Work
The Giving Machines function like a vending machine turned upside down. Instead of buying something for yourself, you choose a card that represents a specific need in our community and make a donation to meet that need.
For Davis Education Foundation, that means real help for real students:
Vision Cane – Provide independence and safe navigation for a visually impaired student.
Hygiene Kit – Supply essential care items for students in our teen centers who are facing housing instability.
Ukulele – Place an instrument in the hands of an under-resourced student and open the door to music education.
School Lunch – Cover a week of lunches for a student in need so they can focus on learning instead of worrying about food.
Welcome Basket – Help students from military families feel at home with a basket of comforts and school essentials when they move into our district.
Each card represents a program we already run in Davis School District. The machines give visitors a simple, tangible way to step into that work.
Powered by Local Partners
Support from the Giving Machines also strengthens key nonprofit partners who serve families throughout Northern Utah:
Catholic Community Services – Provides food assistance to families and students along with support for new mothers, people experiencing homelessness and refugees.
OWCAP (Ogden-Weber Community Action Partnership) – Helps Weber County families build self-reliance through early education, housing resources, employment assistance and more.
Family Promise of Ogden – Walks alongside families facing homelessness with shelter, meals and wraparound services that lead to lasting stability.
United Way of Northern Utah – Connects people and resources to improve education, financial stability and health so every person has the chance to thrive.
When you make a selection at the Giving Machines, you are investing in a network of organizations that lift students and families every day.
When and Where to Visit
The Light the World Giving Machines are open daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Ogden’s Christmas Village on the grounds of the Ogden Municipal Building, 2549 Washington Blvd.
The machines will be in place through December 14, even though Christmas Village continues past that date, so there is a limited window to take part in this experience.
Bring your family, walk through the lights, step into the tiny cottages, then stop at the Giving Machines and let your children help choose a card. It is a simple tradition that turns holiday magic into meals, instruments, welcome baskets and vital support for students across Davis School District.
Lighting the World Close to Home
Every day we meet students who are brilliant, resilient and determined, yet carrying challenges no child should shoulder alone. Some need a cane to safely navigate the hallways. Some need clean clothes and a warm shower. Some need lunch money or a little stability after another move.
Through the Light the World Giving Machines, the community can stand beside those students in a direct, meaningful way. We invite you to visit Ogden’s Christmas Village before December 14, stop by the Giving Machines and help light the world for students and families right here at home.