SAN DIEGO — In the heart of Old Town San Diego, there is a new way to give to help those in need both locally and across the globe. Imagine stepping up to a vending machine, but instead of selecting a candy bar or a bag of chips, you're choosing to change a life.
A New Way to Give
This holiday season through Jan 1, 2025, visitors to the historic Old Town San Diego State Historic Park will encounter Giving Machines, innovative vending devices that allow instant acts of kindness, offering a menu of charitable options that range from purchasing a goat for a struggling family, warm clothing for a child, or providing job training for someone seeking economic independence.
"We are thrilled to host the Giving Machines this holiday season," says Fred Grand, President of the Old Town San Diego Chamber of Commerce. "It's an opportunity for San Diegans to look beyond themselves and make a real difference."
More Than Just a Transaction
The concept is brilliantly simple. Each machine serves as a portal to meaningful assistance, featuring items like:
- Warm clothing for children
- Groceries for struggling families
- Educational resources
- Medical supplies
- Job training programs
The San Diego Giving Machines feature a remarkable lineup of local and global nonprofit organizations, each addressing critical community needs:
Local Nonprofits
- Corazon de Vida Foundation: Provides crucial support to orphaned and abandoned children in Baja, Mexico, working to break the cycle of poverty through targeted interventions.
- Catholic Charities San Diego: Offers comprehensive support including shelter, food, immigration, and refugee services. Their mission focuses on serving the poor and vulnerable, embodying a compassionate approach to community care.
- Gently Hugged: Collects and distributes clothing and essential items to babies from low-income, military, immigrant, and foster families, ensuring no child goes without basic necessities.
- Old Town San Diego Foundation: Transforms lives by providing educational resources to elementary children and assisting homeless individuals through work experience, training, and hot meal programs.
- Birthline of San Diego: Offers life-affirming support and resources to pregnant women and families with young children, providing critical referrals and resources for self-sufficiency.
Global Nonprofits
- Save the Children: A global charity dedicated to improving child health, education, and protection in the most challenging environments around the world.
- Mentors International: A global nonprofit enabling families and individuals in developing countries to achieve self-reliance through comprehensive educational and mentoring programs.
A Global Movement with Local Impact
What started in 2017 as an experimental approach to charitable giving has now grown to over 100 cities worldwide. To date, Giving Machines have facilitated more than $32 million in donations, delivering hundreds of thousands of items to those most in need. Importantly, 100% of each donation goes directly to the nonprofit organizations. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all operational expenses, ensuring that every dollar makes a maximum impact.