After Times Square launch, the ‘world’s greatest vending machine’ moved 10 blocks. Here’s why

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Times Square hosted the launch of the Light the World Giving Machines in Manhattan again this week, but that’s not where New Yorkers, tourists and other visitors will find one now.

The NYC Giving Machines moved from the corner of Broadway and 46th Street — where reps from 14 major charities gathered for interviews with national, international and local news outlets on Monday — to Park Avenue.

That’s not far from Broadway and Times Square at all. And the setting is a nice fit for the Light the World initiative, which is designed to help people focus on Jesus Christ during the Christmas season.

“In New York, our Giving Machine will be only about 10 blocks away from here,” said Monsignor Kevin Sullivan of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, at the end of Monday’s event. “It will be in front of the church that I am (the administrator), Our Saviour Church on Park Avenue and 38th Street.”

Monsigner Sullivan then issued an invitation.

“If anybody is coming to Times Square, take a walk just a few blocks away and give to the Giving Machine in New York. If you’re taking the train into Grand Central Station, walk a few blocks south and use the Giving Machine. If you’re coming into Penn Station, take a walk and use the Giving Machine on Park Avenue and 38th Street,” he said.

“I’ll just end by saying that we have put that Giving Machine next to the scene of the Nativity from Bethlehem of 2,000 years ago. We’ve done that intentionally, because religion cannot be just turning in on ourselves. Even more so it cannot be used as a weapon to divide us from each other. We’ve put that Giving Machine near that very beautiful scene of the Nativity, because we want to communicate that if we worship God, we need to give to our neighbors in need.

“I thank The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for this wonderful initiative gathering us all together, and I invite you all to be givers this season.”

My Recent Stories

How Giving Machines drew major American charity leaders together in Times Square (Dec. 2)

Sides reach potential settlement for proposed Latter-day Saint temple in Fairview, Texas (Nov. 27)

About the church

The First Presidency issued its annual Christmas message.

Are you getting the Light the World inspirational emails this season? If not, sign up here.

See photos of the Christmas lights on Temple Square: “A treat for your eyes.” And here’s where you can see Christmas lights at temple visitors’ centers.

How missionaries at the Provo MTC spent Thanksgiving. It included serving others and hearing a message from Elder Quentin L. Cook.

Continuing last week’s ChurchBeat theme, Elder Cook was at the New York City launch of the Giving Machines and Elder Gerrit W. Gong joined the event to unveil the Giving Machines in Kansas City.

The church began publishing the illustrated “Doctrine and Covenants Stories” online.

What I’m reading

One person indexed 1 million names in 15 years? Yep. Marilyn Clement, a 92-year-old church member from the Snake River (Idaho) 2nd Ward did it, and “Everyone is blown away.”

Here are 10 faith-based Christmas movies.

My colleague Jacob Hess wrote about the two very different stories being told about people stepping away from faith.

Before leaving New York City after covering the Times Square Giving Machines event, I stopped by Bookoff, a used bookstore, and bought “Catch and Kill” for $1. It’s Ronan Farrow’s account of exposing the culture, companies, lawyers and spies who helped cover up sexual offenses committed by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. It’s a terrific read about how Farrow reported out the story; I devoured half of it on the flight back to Utah. Five years ago, I read “She Said,” the account of two New York Times reporters who broke the story. I recommend both books as journalism thrillers and clear-eyed accounts of how rich men used both men and women to cover up their abuse. They also are stories of courage by many women who were able to speak up. Of course, the subject matter can be very difficult. Farrow’s initial story is here.

Behind the Scenes