ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – Several charity groups came together on Thursday to celebrate the results of Light the World’s “Giving Machine” campaign.
A Giving Machine is a vending machine that allows people to donate specific items to nonprofits in exchange for information about their donation.
Three Giving Machines were placed in the Altamonte Mall during the holiday season and gathered $107,845 from more than 6,400 people, according to Light the World.
Five organizations were presented checks on Thursday in various amounts of more than $10,000 each.
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SALT Outreach, which helps young homeless people, received a donation of $13,044.
Founder Eric Camarillo said the money will have a tremendous impact on the people they help.
“People were donating towards showers, a week’s worth of showers for someone who’s living on the street, storage for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness,” Camarillo said. “It means a lot. This is what’s going to help us continue our mission.”
This year, the Giving Machines featured items from these nonprofit organizations:
- Find Feed & Restore
- Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition
- SALT Outreach
- Osceola Council on Aging
- The Neighborhood Center of South Lake
- Lifting Hands International
- Catholic Relief Services
Light the World said there are plans for the Giving Machines to return to hopefully more locations in Central Florida.
For more details about the Giving Machine campaign, click here.
