PEOPLE from Tameside have become trailblazers after taking the chance to ‘Light the World’ with the UK’s first charity donation vending machines.
Seven good causes – including Manchester’s Francis House Children’s Hospice – are benefitting from the new way of giving.
Visitors to the city centre can now donate through the devices, which are part of the first ever UK-wide Light the World initiative and stock donation cards from different charities.
They range from £3 for a mosquito net to £400 for an emergency humanitarian shelter, and charities include FareShare, Jesuit Refugee Service, ShelterBox, Muslim Aid, The Felix Project and iDE, as well as Francis House.
Items people can buy for there include a £5 donation of arts and crafts materials, one week’s homecare visit expenses for £30 and £105 for three sessions of bereavement support.
And Leslie and Matt Edwards, from Ashton-under-Lyne, were among the first to make a donation at the machines in Spinningfields, from which every penny goes to the causes.
Leslie said: “We decided to gift one week of homecare visits to Francis House, because they helped our family so much, when our daughter Neave passed away.
“They provided help for us when we needed it most, and we will be forever grateful to them for all they did to help Neave’s final days as comfortable as possible.”
The High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Dr Eamonn O’Neal and VIP guests gathered in Spinningfields Square to officially open the three specially-fitted vending machines, which will be open to the public until December 27.
He said: “It is a fantastic and unique idea to donate to charity through vending machines.
“It gives the generous customers a real choice how, and where, their hard-earned money is spent and Light the World machines will truly celebrate the community work these charities conduct.
“I know that in Manchester we are going to smash all the targets and donation records, because the people of Manchester are the most generous, kind people.
“We are proud and delighted to have this project in Manchester and hope it will return next year.”
Francis House fundraising officer Kate Puc added: “We were absolutely delighted to be chosen as a beneficiary for the Light the World machines campaign.
“We know these generous donations will make a real difference for local families that are facing unimaginable challenges.”
Light the World machines are being brought to the UK by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as part of their annual Light the World Christmas initiative, which this year is seeing more than 100 machines installed across 15 countries worldwide.
Elder Mark Dundon, a senior ecclesiastical leader for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said: “We are super grateful for this opportunity to do good in the community, and help people.
“Light the world is a unique way to choose how people do good and give, and we are grateful for all of the people that choose to donate.
“These simple acts of kindness go a long way and we are here for no other reason than to light the world and do good.”