EUGENE — Giving to local nonprofits is now as easy as pressing a button. Through Dec. 15, three Giving Machines will be at the Valley River Center Mall, allowing customers to donate to their community or globally during their holiday shopping.
The Giving Machines are bright red vending machines located at the mall’s entrance.
Instead of buying a snack, customers can provide food for a struggling family, art supplies for local students, or support for people in shelters beyond Lane County.
You can also donate a chicken or a goat to a family in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, or donate specific items for farming, nutrition, clean water and sanitation.
Light the World is a project by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where they set up Giving Machines and connect with local nonprofits.
“I think it’s just a unique way to, during the holiday season, shift the mindset away from buying and consumption,” said Seth Lewis, the UO Journalism director and media coordinator.
Valley River Center shoppers can donate to Food For Lane County, CASA of Lane County, Community Sharing Program of Cottage Grove, ShelterCare, Catholic Community Services, and more international organizations.
Kaarin Knudson, mayor-elect of Eugene, spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and reflected on her and her family’s amount of possessions.
“I was also thinking about how important it is that as we’re stepping into the holiday season, we’re not just thinking about the giving of stuff, but that we’re really thinking about the gifts of care and support that we can offer within this community and to one another,” Knudson said.
Representatives from each nonprofit were called forward to highlight how their organization served the community for the crowd of 50+ people. CASA of Lane County Volunteer Coordinator Teresa Standstipher explained that donating to their organization means greater resources for children in foster care.
“Mostly everything goes directly towards the kids and helping them,” Standstipher said. A trip to the Giving Machine could mean purchasing a child’s social and emotional learning tool, a STEM learning kit, or funding the volunteer work that CASA is supported by, Stanstipher said.
According to the LDS website, more than $32 million has been collected since the Giving Machine was first launched in 2017. The machines are in multiple countries, including Australia, China, Kenya, and Mexico.
“I think if there’s a really big community response to having the Giving Machines here, we will see it come back to Eugene-Springfield,” Lewis said.
