Activism

Giving Machines Come to Oakland’s Temple Hill in ‘Light the World With Love’ Event

The Giving Machines are vending machines that, rather than dispensing drinks or potato chips, dispense love, hope and support to those in need. Three Giving Machines are available at Oakland Temple Hill through Jan. 3. These machines allow all to purchase a gift for one of six humanitarian organizations. Simply pick a particular gift such as a chicken for a family overseas or warm clothing for a local need, then use a debit or credit card to pay for the tax-deductible charitable donation.

Published

5 years ago

December 12, 2021

Oakland Post

From left to right, Elder Jay D. Pimentel and Elder Steven C. Merrell of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Linda Ashcraft Hudak, CEO of George Mark Children’s House; Candace K. Andersen, Contra Costa County Supervisor and MC of the launch event; S.F. 49ers offensive tackle Corbin Kaufusi; daughter of Sheng Thao with Sheng Thao, Oakland’s District 4 Councilmember; Bobby Miller, director of Emeryville Citizens Assistance Program; Christine Dillman, associate director of Tri-Valley Haven; ECAP founder Nellie Hannon; and Bruce Bird of JustServe. Photo by Kourtney Jex Jarvis.

By Post Staff

At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Oakland City Council President Sheng Thao and Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor President Candace Andersen were joined by San Francisco 49er offensive lineman Corbin Kafusi to launch Giving Machines on Oakland Temple Hill.

These machines allow all to purchase a gift for one of six humanitarian organizations. Simply pick a particular gift such as a chicken for a family overseas or warm clothing for a local need, then use a debit or credit card to pay for the tax-deductible charitable donation.

Participating nonprofits include three local and three global organizations. Tri-Valley Haven, the George Mark Children’s House (George Mark) and Emeryville Citizens Assistance Program (ECAP) serve adults and children in the Bay Area while UNICEF, Church World Service (CWS Global) and Water Aid address humanitarian crises around the world.

Councilmember Thao told those assembled, “It truly allows for thousands of people to come and actually touch the lives of so many people around the world.” She and her daughter helped heft the huge scissors to cut the ribbon.

All administrative costs of the machines, from construction to installation to operation and even the credit card fees are covered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. “100% of all donations collected will be delivered to the nonprofits displayed in the Giving Machines,” Jay Pimentel, a spokesman for the Church, said.

The annual Temple Hill Christmas Lights and Days of Christmas Concert Series run concurrently with the Giving Machines. The Lights, Concerts and Giving Machines are all part of the Church’s 2021 worldwide campaign to Light the World with Love. Oakland Temple Hill is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 4780 Lincoln Avenue in Oakland. All are invited to come and enjoy the decorated grounds and to see if there are charities in the Giving Machines they would like to support.