DAVAO CITY—Appearing like vending machines inside a mall, the red-colored giving machines of the Light-The World Project have a different and noble concept. Instead of persons purchasing items for themselves, the machines provide them with varied options to donate to different beneficiaries.
The Light-The-World of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints give generous individuals who want to share their blessings an accessible and convenient way of donating to their chosen beneficiaries.
“The beautiful thing about the giving machines is we partnered with different organizations that designate items where you can contribute to, such as eyeglasses, food kits for many many things, we make cards in the vending machines and it has a prize for that item,” says Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Philippine Area Presidency Elder Michael Strong.
An individual chooses in the giving machine where to place his donation. The person then drops his payment corresponding to the donation package he chose.
“The money is collected and the card drops and then is recorded what each item was so that when give the money to the organizations who will distribute it to the beneficiaries we know those that number of items will go to the organizations and to the recipients,” Strong said.
He added that 100 percent of those collected will go to the intended beneficiaries as the church will bear the administrative and operational costs of running the giving machines.
There are about 100 giving machines locations around the world and according to Strong they have collected $32-million for the project.
Partner organizations of the Light the World machines in Davao include UNICEF Philippines for their child protection projects in the barangay, Mabuhay Deseret Foundation for clef palate patients, the Ateneo de Davao University-University Community Engagement Advocacy (ADDU-UCEAC) for their Indigenous Peoples scholars.
The Giving Machines is located at Third Level Expansion Wing, Abreeza Ayala Mall in Davao City, it was launched on November 14 and will run up to January 3, 2025. (PIA/RGA)
