Visitors to the historic Old Town San Diego State Historic Park can now step up to a special vending machine. Through January 1, the Giving Machines will allow visitors to select from a wide variety of charitable items, such as food, clothing, job training, and even farm animals. Donations can range from providing warm clothing for children, offering groceries for families, to supplying educational resources, medical supplies, and job training programs. Whether it's providing a goat to a family in need or donating to a local cause, these machines offer an accessible way to make an instant, positive impact.
The Giving Machines support a range of nonprofit organizations, both local and global. Locally, organizations like Corazon de Vida Foundation, Catholic Charities San Diego, Gently Hugged, and the Old Town San Diego Foundation benefit from the donations. Corazon de Vida Foundation provides critical support to orphaned and abandoned children in Baja, Mexico, while Catholic Charities San Diego delivers vital services such as food and shelter to the most vulnerable members of the community. Gently Hugged focuses on providing clothing and essential items to babies from low-income families, and the Old Town San Diego Foundation supports homeless individuals with educational resources and job training.
On the global front, organizations such as Save the Children and Mentors International also benefit from the Giving Machines. Save the Children focuses on improving child health, education, and protection in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Mentors International helps individuals in developing countries achieve self-reliance through education and mentorship programs.
The concept behind the Giving Machines is simple yet powerful. Instead of choosing a snack or drink from a vending machine, visitors select an item that will directly benefit someone in need. Since their inception in 2017, the Giving Machines have expanded to over 100 cities worldwide and raised more than $32 million in donations. Every dollar donated goes directly to the selected nonprofit organization, with operational costs covered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Donors can contribute by using credit cards or mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Donations range from as little as $5 to as much as $3,500, and donors will receive a digital receipt for tax purposes.
For more information about the Light The World Giving Machine, visit givingmachinesocal.org.
Originally published on December 2, 2024.
