BEE CAVE, Texas — Even though the Christmas holiday is over, one organization is helping Central Texans give back to people in need, with the help of vending machines.
The Texas Giving Machine made its way to Austin for the first time ever this year. With just the punch of a number and swipe of a card, people can donate goods and services to charities both locally and internationally.
“It’s a really unique way to give back, so to speak,” said Ken Fette, a volunteer for the Austin Giving Machine.
Back in 2017, the Giving Machines started popping up internationally from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In Texas, there are three other locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston.
In each Giving Machine, the donations will go to five local charities and two international ones. Here in Central Texas, those include Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Interfaith Action of Central Texas, Circle of Hope Community Center, Ride On Center for Kids (ROCK) and the Texas Children’s Hospital.
There’s about 30 different goods and services in each vending machine for donors to choose from. Some of those include a week’s worth of groceries, school supplies, a gas card, holiday toys and even a baby goat.
Lissette Weldon, a volunteer with the Texas Giving Machine, calls it a unique process that makes giving a little more accessible.
“I think it’s really great because a lot of times people don’t just want to go online, and I think it’s overwhelming to search, like, ‘Who do I want to give to?’ But it’s already done for you,” Weldon said.
Shashi and Ramesh Chugh were shopping at the Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave where the first Austin Giving Machine is currently located. On Friday, they were surprised when they found out what the machines were used for.
“It’s not all about just you taking stuff, this is like the total opposite,” Shashi Chugh said. “This is amazing … we need them all around our community.”
Fette also said it’s a simple way to donate, and it’s something that will benefit the community.
“You’d like to do something, but you don’t know who to give to or what to give, and these are things that we actually know that they need,” Fette said.
The Giving Machines are open 24/7, but from about 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day, volunteers will be around assisting. The machines will be in the Hill Country Galleria until Jan. 1.