At CambridgeSide Mall in Boston, there's a pair of vending machines that are offering donors the chance to help others. Dubbed "Giving Machines", these red kiosks are currently available on level one of the shopping center, providing mall-goers with the opportunity to directly donate to charity with just a swipe of their credit card.
According to The Boston Globe, instead of dispensing physical items, the machine drops a card that symbolizes a donation made to one of the selected charities—ranging in cost from $5 to $150. These charities include local groups like the Transformational Prison Project, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, and Catholic Charities Boston, as well as international organizations such as UNICEF and WaterAid. Jared Chrislip, the communications director for the Boston Coordinating Council of the church, explained the church's aim to simply shine a light on other people who are doing good in the community, and send funds in their direction.
These vending machines have been set up in 61 locations worldwide. An announcement from the Church's newsroom detailed the items available across all the machines, including meals, clothing, healthcare, bedding, and job training. A unique feature of the machines is the option to type in the number 777 to donate one of everything available in the machine.
Since their introduction in 2017, Giving Machines have generated over $22 million in donations, all while offering a full 100% of the collected funds to the participating nonprofits. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all program operational expenses to ensure this level of contribution. The nonprofits benefiting from this campaign are various, with over 250 organizations on the list this holiday season. Places like Toronto, Sydney, and Guatemala City are among those hosting these vending machines globally, helping to extend the campaign's reach to a diverse range of places and causes.
Bobby Iacoviello, Jr., director of community outreach for the Transformational Prison Project, who told The Boston Globe, "Something small like a shirt can really empower somebody or make somebody's day, especially when you're in a place like that."
