Have you ever bought a chicken from a vending machine? How about new bedding for a child, a haircut or a week of groceries for a family?
From Nov. 29 to Dec. 15, essential items like these can be purchased from a Light the World Giving Machine sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the St. Augustine Visitors Center Plaza next to the parking garage. With prices starting at $10, anyone can help those in need in St. Augustine, northern Florida and around the world.
The Giving Machine is a bright red vending machine with cards representing items needed by global and local nonprofit organizations. Guests will be able to choose from a variety of options such as hygiene products, children’s items, backpacks, bedding, hot meals, seeds and livestock (chickens). Prices range from $10 to $150 for donation items. After using a debit card (Apple Pay or cash not available), purchased item cards drop into an enclosed display bin. The donor then leaves with a digital receipt.
The Giving Machines will be available all hours. Volunteers will be available to assist from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Photos can be taken at the Light the World photo booth. A special ribbon-cutting event will take place on Dec. 3, “Giving Tuesday,” at 6 p.m. A schedule of special invites will be posted on social media.
These popular red vending machines will appear in 106 cities in the U.S. and in nine countries worldwide, offering all who visit a fun, unique and memorable way to perform an instant act of kindness. Following their time in St. Augustine, they will travel to the Altamonte Mall in Orlando to finish the Christmas season from Dec. 17 to Jan. 2.
“We are so excited to have the Giving Machine in our area again,” said Michael S. Lavoie, leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in St. Augustine. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has a mission to relieve suffering and give hope to individuals who need it. The Giving Machine is a way for everyone to take part in that mission, especially during the holiday season.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all operational costs, so 100% of the money from the donors go to the charities to purchase and deliver selected items in the machines. Local and regional charities in St. Augustine’s machines are Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County, Sharing Putnam’s Bounty of Putnam County, Kim’s Open Door of Duval County, BASCA of Clay County and Peaceful Paths of Alachua County. The two global charities in the machines are Catholic Relief Services and Lifting Hands International.
“The items we have in the machine will bless homeless families and unsheltered clients and give them joy,” said Debi Redding, executive director of the Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County. “Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this amazing project.”
Go to instagram.com/givingmachineflorida and facebook.com/GivingMachineFlorida for information about what is happening at the St. Augustine Giving Machine. To learn more about the global initiative, go to GivingMachine.org.
