How it happened
The Giving Machine is a fundraising initiative sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is part of the organization’s Light the World holiday campaign.
During the holiday season, vending machines were set up in Grapevine, McKinney and Frisco where patrons could directly pay for items donated to people in need and while supporting five local and two global charities.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a check presentation March 11 to showcase the donations via The Giving Machine to the following groups:
- Salvation Army North Texas - $96,335
- Catholic Charities Dallas - $80,862
- Lovepacs - $87,500
- 6 Stones - $89,660
- Agape - $100,157
- Lifting Hands International - $121,400
- UNICEF - USA - $58,336
The Giving Machine allows donors to pick and choose what their contributions go to by selecting specific cards in the vending machines.
According to a news release from Light the World, 18,691 charitable items went directly to those in need via the seven selected charities, including:
- 137,800 polio vaccines
- 602 goats to provide income for 300 families
- More than 5,000 food items
- More than 2,000 clothing or shoes items for local women and children
- 1,161 hygiene kits for local women and children in crisis
- 1,011 warm nights shelter for local homeless people
- 1,051 arts and craft supplies for low-income youth
- More than 850 items to support local babies
- More than 800 bus passes for reliable transportation for locals in need
- More than 500 Christmas gifts for local kids
The Giving Machine set up three 2024 locations in North Texas, including:
- Napoli’s Italian Kitchen and Market, 309 S. Main St., Grapevine.
- Frisco Square, 8843 Coleman Blvd., Frisco
- Guava Tree in Historic Downtown McKinney, 104 S. Chestnut St., McKinney
The initiative first started in Salt Lake City in 2017.
