Shoppers in the West Midlands were invited to make donations to charities – through vending machines. For the first time in the UK, ‘Light the World’ machines were installed in Britain to help raise much needed funds for charities through donation cards.
Three specially fitted vending machines were open to the public in the Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull, from November 15 until November 27. The stocked donation cards from seven charities, ranging from £3 to £400, so kind-hearted shoppers could decide exactly where their charitable contributions are spent.
One of the charities involved in the project is ShelterBox – an international disaster relief charity that supports people to rebuild their lives after disaster or conflict across the world. Shoppers keen to support ShelterBox were able to buy donation cards from the vending machines, including for:
- a mosquito net, for £3, which helps in the fight against deadly malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.
- a solar light, for £15, which helps people to see when darkness falls.
- a clean waterkit, for £60, so people can access fresh drinking water.
- a humanitarian tent, for £405, which provides life-saving emergency shelter for people who have lost their home to disaster.
ShelterBox’s director of fundraising & communications Lisa McCormack, who is from Solihull, said: “The Light the World vending machine is a fun and festive fundraising initiative, which helps ShelterBox continue our crucial work, supporting families uprooted from their homes by disaster or conflict.
“Fundraising drives like these mean we can deliver vital aid like tents, water filters, and thermal blankets to people who need them. The wonderful people who donate through these vending machines make a tangible difference to people who have often lost not only their homes but loved ones and livelihoods too.”
ShelterBox is currently supporting people uprooted from their homes by disaster, conflict, and the climate crisis. It’s working in Gaza, Lebanon, the Philippines, Mozambique, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Bangladesh, Sudan, and Chad.
Light the World machines were brought to the UK by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as part of their annual Light the World Christmas initiative.
Kirsty Moreton is the City Lead on behalf of the Church for the West Midlands Light the World machines campaign.
She said: “This initiative brought together some wonderful international, national and local charities, and we were delighted by the support and enthusiasm for this project that we received from Touchwood Shopping Centre.”
Other charities involved in the initiative include FareShare, Jesuit Refugee Service, Muslim Aid, The Felix Project, and iDE, as well as local charity Little Hearts Matter.
