Two Vending Machines At Natick Mall Are Selling Donations To Charities

NATICK, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The makers behind the Light the World Giving Machine celebrated Family Day at the Natick Mall on Saturday by teaching kids the importance of giving back during the holiday season.

The Giving Machines are custom vending machines that sell supplies that support local and global charities, such as The Greater Boston Food Bank and the Transformational Prison Project. Supplies inside range from toiletries and healthy meals to job trainings.

Krystal Whitmore manages the machines in Boston and told WBZ NewsRadio that finding the perfect location for these machines is the key.

“When you come to the mall to shop you have the opportunity to also give to people who are in need,” she said.

For its third annual Family Day, the organization hosted a variety of festive activities, like craft tables, story time and holiday music. This is all part of their mission to show kids the joy of giving to those in need, Whitmore added, because they don’t always understand those people can be kids too.

“Kids their age [whose] foods are scarce,” she continued. “They go to school without eating breakfast or have the clothing they need especially in the winter times.”

The machines work just like a regular vending machine: input the monetary amount, select the product and the purchase is a donation to someone in need.

“As a person who enjoys giving to charities, I like knowing how I can help them the best,” Whitmore said.

WBZ NewsRadio's Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.