There's a vending machine in which you put money in and nothing comes out — and that's the beauty of it.
It's called the 'Light The World Giving Machine,' and it's a unique way to donate to worthy causes.
"When they come to the machine, they quickly realize that this machine is not about getting, it's really about giving," said Janae Baird with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which operates the machine.
The Giving Machine has the look and feel of a typical vending machine.
"Each card shows the item, and then it shows a donation price, and then it shows a sticker of the charity for who that donation is going to," Baird said.
Some of the items that people can donate through the machine include:
• A hot shower and lunch for $10 to Arlington Charities
• A winter coat for $25 to Grace
• A veteran comfort kit for $18.50 to the American Red Cross
• New shoes for $20 to I Can Still Shine
• Job training for $85 to Hugs Cafe Inc.
• A homeless essential kit for $75 to The Samaritan Inn
• A music class for $26 to North Texas SNAP
• Legal services for $100 to It's Going To Be OK
• African girl schooling for $50 to African Girls Hope Foundation
• Menstrual health products for $100 to Church World Service
"We have oversized pictures of each one of the items that are in the machine that they can hold up one of the cards... or maybe if they get three or four items, they can hold up three or four items... and stand in front of the Light the World Giving Machine banner and take a photo to represent the donation that they gave in the machine," Baird said.
It's especially exciting when someone in an especially charitable mood steps up to the machine.
"We do have one really exciting donation that we've had a couple of people take advantage of, and that's actually called the 777 donation," Baird said. "And that is one of everything in the machine, and then one card of everything drops out."
While those cards come out and people can pose with them, they don't actually get to take them home.
"They really don't get anything from the machine besides a digital receipt of what they donated," Baird said.
Aside from helping out those in need, the Giving Machine also sheds some light on some of the lesser-known nonprofits in the community.
"They're also getting to know these nonprofit organizations and getting to see the things that they need, but also to think about the things that they're doing in our community, because some of them are maybe names people haven't heard about," Baird said.
The Light The World Giving Machine is in Sundance Square through Dec. 7th. It will then be in downtown Grapevine at 102 S. Main St. Dec. 9 to 17th.
Finally, the Giving Machine's last stop is at the McKinney Town Square Dec. 19th to Jan. 1st.
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