Giving Machine Coming To The Mall In Columbia This Holiday Season

COLUMBIA, MD — A Giving Machine will make an appearance soon at The Mall in Columbia, a mechanism designed to help others make donations to local and global charities.

The Giving Machine functions like a vending machine and is part of the Light the World Christmas initiative by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Local charities supported through the Giving Machine includes the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Bridges to Housing Stability, Grassroots Crisis Intervention, Salvation Army of Central Maryland and Digital Harbor Foundation, according to WMAR.

The Giving Machine MidAtlantic will be at The Mall in Columbia from Dec. 6 through Dec. 17. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. Dec. 6 near Dunkin' and Forever 21 on the lower level of the mall. It's stopping by 61 cities worldwide, and will travel to Richmond, Va., after Columbia.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has extended the Giving Machines to the community since 2017 and 100 percent of every donation goes to the designated nonprofit.