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SALT LAKE CITY — Vending machines set up to allow people to donate money to various causes have resulted in more than $1.3 million charitable donations since November, according to statistics released by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Tuesday.
In all, more than 52,000 donations have been made through five “Light the World” vending machines set up in Salt Lake City, New York City, Gilbert, Arizona, London and in the Philippines since Nov. 28, said church spokesman Daniel Woodruff.
“We are thrilled with the enthusiastic and generous response worldwide to the ‘Light The World’ giving machines,” he said in a statement.
The "giving machines" work like a typical snack vending machine, but instead of food, people donate money toward charitable causes in Utah and across the globe. For example, money could go to organizations like the Utah Food Bank or Eye Care for Utah Kids.
Donations could also include livestock for communities in other countries or even sports equipment in a refugee camp.
As of Tuesday, people had donated an average of about $25.48. More than $500,000 had been donated for livestock to be sent to communities in need, another $200,000 for meals, $75,000 for sewing machines, $50,000 for water bottles and $35,000 for polio vaccines by using the machines and another $440,000 in miscellaneous categories, according to Woodruff.
The numbers released Tuesday shows a significant increase from 2017, which was the first year the church released the charitable vending machine. A single machine set up at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Temple Square collected $550,000 in donations. The church expanded to four other locations in 2018.
Woodruff said he didn’t know if they will continue to grow in 2019. The machines will remain in operation through Dec. 31.
