‘Giving Machines’ are like vending machines that allow people to give gifts to the needy

• The nonprofit Latter-day Saint Charities have been hosting the annual #LightTheWorld holiday initiative to inspire giving across the world.
• For this year, they brought back the Giving Machines — vending machines that let people purchase donations in kind.
• When donors purchase an item via credit card, the machine dispenses a card showing an image and description of their donation.

The nonprofit Latter-day Saint Charities is continuing the annual #LightTheWorld holiday initiative this year by installing the Giving Machines in 10 American cities. The machines, which initially look like ordinary vending machines, allow people to spread holiday cheer by purchasing donations in kind.

Interested donors can purchase via their credit card. The machine would then dispense a card showing an image and description of their donation. They can choose from a variety of donations, such as polio vaccines, a goat, household cleaning kits, or even a day at Yankee Stadium for an orphaned teen.

All machines have launched in the following cities and will remain operational throughout the Christmas season:

• Las Vegas, Nevada– downtown Summerlin Mall
• Nashville, Tennessee– 18 Bridgestone Arena
• Honolulu, Hawaii– Pearlridge Center
• Orem, Utah– University Place Mall
• Salt Lake City, Utah– City Creek Center
• Oakland, California– Temple Hill
• Gilbert, Arizona– Water Tower Plaza
• Denver, Colorado– Writer Square
• Kansas City, Missouri– Crown Center
• New York City, New York– Rockefeller Plaza

The machine in New York City is located just south of its famous Christmas tree. It was launched on Tuesday, Nov. 30, known as “Giving Tuesday,” with speeches from people at UNICEF, WaterAid, the UNHCR, CARE, the Mariano Rivera Foundation, and other charities.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints installed the first-ever Giving Machine back in 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they are headquartered.

The first program was a success — donations amounted to over half a million dollars. In 2018, there were 92,190 Giving Machine transactions valued at over $2.3 million. In 2019, there were 255,814 donations worth over $6.2 million as they expanded to other locations as well, including two areas outside the United States: Manila, Philippines; and London, England.

The program was halted in 2020 amid the pandemic. But now, the organization has brought back the Giving Machines to ten different U.S. cities. For this year’s campaign, the Church will be covering all administrative costs so that 100 percent of each donation goes to each charity.

Some of the donations were made possible through other organizations like UNICEF, USA, The Mariano Rivera Foundation, USA for UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, and The Actors Fund.

According to the Latter-day Saint Charities, the annual #LightTheWorld holiday initiative is “an invitation to all to make the most of the Christmas season by giving, one person at a time — in homes, in communities, and around the globe.”

Source: Good News Network