Because of tourists, able volunteers and international influence, the directors of the “Light the World” campaign with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared how Laie is the perfect place for a Giving Machine. The Giving Machine campaign comes with the hope a more accessible opportunity to donate will help “ignite a global flame of doing good.”
Giving Machines are vending machines where individuals can donate to worldwide and local organizations. They are located at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) from Nov. 19 to Jan. 1 and provide tourists and locals an opportunity to donate specific items to charities during the holiday season.
Laie is one of only ten locations in the world with giving machines. Each machine is partnered with two global charities and four local charities, aiming to keep as many donations distributed throughout Hawaii. The nonprofits paired with the Laie Giving Machines are UNICEF, WaterAid, FamilyPromise, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Food Bank, and DentalClinic.
Karl Cheney is a mass media specialist of the missionary department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His department plans and executes the Giving Machine campaign. He shared that their main goal is to get people involved in a new and innovative way to donate.
Cheney said 100 percent of the profits derived from the Giving Machines go directly back to the charities.
“Some may feel that their simple offering will make little difference. Not so. Each gift, regardless of the amount, lifts hearts and blesses lives in countless ways here in Hawaii. No one on the receiving end would ever feel that your gift didn’t make a difference to them.
“This is a unique campus and community. Even with relatively small populations, both offer a global reach. The marvelous students who study here come from all parts of the world, and Laie is a destination for hundreds of thousands of worldwide visitors.
Cheney also said, “We hope what we’re doing here will be noticed in faraway lands and that this effort will help ignite a global flame of doing good.”
Getting involved
In preparation for the Giving Machines' arrival, Sister Cheryl Young, a sister missionary working with the PCC on the project, said the machines had been in the works since the end of September.
“Most locations get from six months to a year to prepare for these machines to come, and we got word Sept. 23 we were getting two machines. This was exciting news, but we had much to do before their arrival, and a very short amount of time to do it.”
Young shared that the majority of the volunteers are students, with 294 out of the whole 448 shifts being filled by BYU–Hawaii students.
“I feel like the students were just incredible, and if it weren’t for [them], I don’t know how this would have been possible.”
Student volunteers go through a short training, helping them get ready to share crucial information about the goals of the Giving Machine. They are encouraged to engage with anyone interested in while spreading love during the holidays.
“This is not a proselyting opportunity. If patrons want to know more about the Church, volunteers can refer them to the local missionaries. This is strictly to bring awareness to giving and how giving one by one can affect people’s lives.”
A volunteer for the Giving Machine, Nephi Sanchez, a junior from Arizona studying social work, shared he was excited when he heard about the Giving Machine in Laie and wanted to volunteer as soon as possible.
“I just think it’s a brilliant idea to have a vending machine to give people things because it just makes it so easy and accessible for everybody.”
One by one
The Giving Machines have the theme, “One by One,” intended to cause deep reflection on how to best serve people individually, according to Cheney.
Cheney said, “[The Savior] went about doing good, and He did it one by one—which happens to be the theme for this year’s 'Light the World' campaign—One by One. As I try to draw closer to the Savior, to become a little bit better disciple each day, I ask myself, ‘What can I do for someone?’ The Giving Machines are definitely an answer.”
Likewise, Young mentioned how relatively small things like donating in a vending machine help people emulate Christ better.
“I want to thank all those students who have helped by signing up to serve and also ask that you continue to spread the word about how a simple and meaningful act of service can change a life... when we choose to serve the way Christ did, one by one.”
Young expressed much gratitude for the nonprofits they are partnered with and how much people need to understand their goals.
“I think the biggest thing right now is to bring awareness to the nonprofits associated with our Giving Machines and all the different needs around the world. It’s not always about helping our own [Church] members.”
All over the world
Cheney said as the machines' success continues to grow exponentially, more and more people are getting excited about a possible Giving Machine being in their area.
Deciding where to place the Giving Machines year after year can be a challenge, Cheney said. He said they look at traffic, accessibility, member involvement, and many other factors when choosing their next location.
“I can’t say that next year we’ll go from ten to fifteen, or whatever, locations. At this point, we simply don’t know. Our hope is that this initiative continues to grow as it provides a way for individual generosity to light the world.”
The Church hired BonCom, a company focused mainly around advertising and innovative ways of getting information to people, to help with the development of the Giving Machines. Brett Meldrum is a brand director at BonCom and shared his experience of making the Giving Machines easily accessible to the public.
“We want to have people feel something during the holidays that you can only get from giving and following the example of Jesus Christ. We help to create, and we work with multiple vendors. This is really a collection of experts as far as building these machines and building the brand.”
A change of heart
Cheney emphasized the need to keep good deeds like this going throughout the year. He shared how the only way for this to truly be accomplished is through a real change of heart.
“[A change of heart] takes time. It’s not something that happens as a result of a donation made through a vending machine or a single act of kindness, but as we make constant efforts to become a little more like the Savior each day, our hearts will change.”
Cheney commented while these donations are relatively small and simple, the people involved need to keep the spirit of the Giving Machine prevalent in their lives.
“It’s easy to walk up to a Giving Machine, select an item or two, swipe a credit card, and walk away feeling like I’ve done my part. After all, I’ve just bought a couple of chickens for someone, somewhere. But if that’s the end of my service, then I’m not giving my heart a chance to really change.
“Following the Savior’s example requires that we put ourselves in places each day－physically, mentally, spiritually, where the spirit can inspire us to act. Doing this will invite a longer-lasting change of heart and more permanent Christ-centered discipleship.”
He shared while all of the excitement surrounding the Giving Machines and the unique opportunities which arise from having them so close by is certainly well-earned, it is also important to keep service and giving back the main priority in life.
“Giving Machines are just one way to help us think of others over ourselves. But it’s the spirit of them which invites me to be a little more gentle or kind or thoughtful to you, and then for you to do the same for someone else. We hope all who participate will feel the Savior’s perfect love and to share that with another.
“As a Church, and as individual disciples of Jesus Christ, we invite all people to come unto Christ. That’s our mission. And the Giving Machines are one simple way for people to draw closer to the Savior this Christmas season.”