As part of their mission to serve others, members of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints took a moment to ask the simple question, “How can we give people a chance to perform an instant act of service?” From this question there arose a concept that fits right in with our on-the-go lifestyle: a vending machine. In 2017 the first Giving Machine was created as a way to help mitigate suffering and improve the lives of those less fortunate. Since then the Giving Machine program has visited dozens of cities in many countries, raising over $22 million in 2022 alone.
When a city is chosen as a site for a machine, LDS-church members meet with local nonprofits and city leaders to choose three organizations to receive the donations. The organizations then list their needs, including smaller items or services all the way to high-cost things that can make an impact on a larger scale. In addition, each machine includes a statewide and a global charity that givers may choose.
This system of giving enables people to choose not only the organization they want to support, but something specific they want to provide. “Everyone can be part of the solution to inequity,” said Lynda Bennett, part of the LDS-church team bringing the Giving Machine to Prescott. “Many of us experience such abundance and want to help others, but there is a distribution issue. The Giving Machine makes it easy to do.”
The Giving Machine will be set up December 2-14 on Goodwin Street next to the Chamber of Commerce building. The three local nonprofits that will benefit from the machine are The Launchpad teen center, Prescott Area Shelter Services, and the Life Connections crisis-pregnancy center. On the state level, donors may also give to Catholic Charities, and options will be available for donations to global initiatives.
Many options will be available for a range of donations. A $25 donation could cover a week of diapers for a mother at PASS, for instance, or art supplies for The Launchpad. Each recipient organization comes up with its own specific requested donations. Maybe you’ll see a request to cover 100 polio vaccines in Ghana and feel moved to cover that important health service. When you insert your credit card, the machine signals that your donation has “dropped.” “It takes drop-by-drop to make a deluge,” says Bennett, describing the initiative to provide help where it’s needed. It’s very important to note that all administrative and credit-card processing fees are covered by the LDS church, so 100% of your donation will go to the cause you’ve chosen.
Last year, worldwide, Light of the World Giving Machines collected funds to provide 3.2 million healthy meals and 13,000 boxes of fresh produce to families. Nearly 32,000 children received school supplies and schooling, including 2,900 scholarships for tuition and housing; 516,000 children received vaccinations against polio and measles. Tens of thousands of chickens, ducks and beehives will provide long-term nutrition and income potential.
While you’re downtown during the first half of December, shopping or attending one of our many Christmas events, look for the big red machine on the Plaza. You will likely find an item you can afford to cover with your donation. It’s easy to do and just takes a minute to make a difference in someone’s life.
