Have you seen the Giving Machines this year? They’re back!
Giving Machines became available in November in various locations throughout the world and online. Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as part of its Light the World initiative, Giving Machines provide tangible ways to contribute to the health and happiness of others to anyone who’d like to impact their global community.
Giving Machines are humanitarian aid vending machines. They’re fantastic! The Church of Jesus Christ defrays the operating costs of the machines so 100% of your donation goes to your selected charitable cause. The charitable categories are clean water, food and livestock, housing and shelter, clothing, refugee aid, and giving of your time.
If you donate online, select a category, like “Refugee Aid,” then click to contribute to a vetted charity partner, like Lifting Hands International. Then select the type of donation you choose, like one goat. You’re directed to an easy payment portal and, voila!, you’ve just made a difference.
The Giving Machines Are an Annual Tradition
Going to the Giving Machine in the Orem University Mall is a tradition for my sister Desirée Johnson and her family. She and Kurt let Asher, Ethan, Cliffie, and Piper choose what causes the family will support each year. Last year, they donated chickens to families. This year, the children chose visits with a meal for elderly people and a farm starting kit. Their family grows a sizable garden each summer and the kids know the value of a good harvest from a few sown seeds.
1,200 miles away, Pam Skaggs visited a Giving Machine in San Antonio, Texas. Choosing a cause at a Giving Machine is an annual tradition for her, too. She donated 350 meals this year.
Participating Online
There isn’t a physical Giving Machine near me, so I select my donations online.
This opportunity to give became even more meaningful to me as we experienced a house fire that displaced our family this week. We have a community that rallied around us. We felt love, concern, and support.
This Light the World initiative enables me to share my love, concern, and support through vetted charities with folks without an established or abundant community.
After extinguishing the fire, the firefighters asked if we’d like to be connected with the Red Cross’s services and support. While we felt like we didn’t need to use their resources, I did note that the Red Cross is one of the Giving Machine partners. Our experience hit home how meaningful the Red Cross’s worldwide mission is.
Because we’re displaced, I chose options related to Refugee Aid.
Addressing Physical/Tangible Needs and Sending Emotional/Spiritual Support
While physical or online Giving Machines provide tangible ways to help others, it is also such a spiritual connection to our fellow humans. Our traumatic experience this week impacted our tangible circumstances as well as hit us emotionally and spiritually. Feeling such an outpouring of love and concern from those around us truly made a difference to us. And I imagine that receiving a goat or a meal or some seeds or school supplies or menstrual kits or grief/trauma counseling, etc, etc, etc can truly make a difference for folks in our global community experiencing extreme circumstances.
This passage in Matthew 25 became extra meaningful to me this week. Jesus matter-of-factly taught what type of people could inherit His kingdom. They inherit His kingdom because they feel comfortable in His presence and have nurtured Christlike qualities. Their hands are Christ’s hands. Their hearts love as He loves. They want to live in His presence, doing His work, because, through Christ, they overcame the world’s selfishness and delight in accomplishing His work and glory.
Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you…
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:34-40)
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