Charitable Vending Machines Return to the Chicago Area

Light the World Giving Machines return to the Chicago area on Nov. 14, giving visitors a way to make charitable donations by selecting items on a vending machine and paying by card. The rollout begins at 11 a.m. at Pioneer Court, 401 N. Michigan Ave., where the machines remain through Nov. 16. Donors can fund food, hygiene products, clothing, school supplies and livestock for participating nonprofits. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsors the program and pays operating expenses, so the full donation reaches the selected organization. Participants include Ronald McDonald House Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana, VOA Illinois, Loaves & Fishes and Unicef USA. The machines then move into the holiday season at The Shops at North Bridge in Chicago beginning Nov. 17 and Fox Valley Mall in Aurora beginning Nov. 20. Both locations operate through Jan. 3, 2027. Organizers said the worldwide initiative has collected about $70 million and will reach more than 120 cities across six continents this year. For vending operators, the program is a high-profile example of unattended hardware used for something other than product sales, and the sponsorship model shows how machine operating costs can be covered separately from the funds raised. Source: Vending Times — https://www.vendingtimes.com/news/charitable-vending-machines-return-to-chicago-area/