First seen in New York's Rockefeller Plaza and London's Hyde Park, the world-famous Light the World Giving Machine is coming to Charleston's historic Market Street this Christmas season.
These bright red vending machines work in reverse by giving people an opportunity to buy much-needed items for local and global charities. However, instead of buying the usual junk food that drops down to the bottom of the vending machine, people can insert money into these special vending machines and donate a goat for a needy family in Africa or even an acre of sweet potatoes for another family in Asia. And right here in Charleston, people will be able to use the Light the World Mobile Giving Machine to buy a 7-Day Bus Pass to help transport a neighbor in need to job interviews or a full day of meals for a family of four. The local partner for the Light the World Mobile Giving Machine is The Palmetto Project.
The Light the World Mobile Giving Machine will be on Market Street just a block east of the City Market and right behind The Charleston Place hotel from Monday, December 19th through Friday, December 23rd, 2022.
Since 2017, these Giving Machines have been placed in select cities throughout the world, raising more than $15.1 million dollars for charitable organizations. To support more local nonprofits, a Mobile Giving Machine was launched this year and will be traveling to five southern cities from Thanksgiving through Christmas: St. Augustine, Florida; Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina.
One hundred percent of all donations go directly to the participating charities. For more information, visit https://www.mobilegivingmachine.org
Photo Info: An artist's rendering of the Light the World Mobile Giving Machine in Atlanta. This reverse-vending machine, that provides items for those in need, will be at 137 Market Street, Charleston, SC 29401 from Dec. 18-23, 2022.
