Press release – 12 November
Shoppers in the West Midlands are the first in the country to be invited to make donations to charities – through vending machines. For the first time in the UK, ‘Light the World’ machines are being installed in Britain to help raise much needed funds for charities through donation cards.
Three specially fitted vending machines will be open to the public in the Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull, from November 15 until November 27. They’ll stock donation cards from seven charities, ranging from £3 to £400, so kind-hearted shoppers can decide exactly where their charitable contributions are spent.
One of the charities involved in the project is ShelterBox – an international disaster relief charity that supports people to rebuild their lives after disaster or conflict across the world. Shoppers keen to support ShelterBox can buy donation cards from the vending machines, including for:
- a mosquito net, for £3, which helps in the fight against deadly malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.
- a solar light, for £15, which helps people to see when darkness falls.
- a clean water kit, for £60, so people can access fresh drinking water.
- a humanitarian tent, for £405, which provides life-saving emergency shelter for people who have lost their home to disaster.
ShelterBox’s Director of Fundraising & Communications Lisa McCormack, who is from Solihull, says: “The Light the World vending machine is a fun and festive fundraising initiative, which will help ShelterBox continue our crucial work, supporting families uprooted from their homes by disaster or conflict.
“With millions of people displaced worldwide, the need for emergency shelter has never been more urgent. As winter approaches and temperatures drop in many places around the world, the need for shelter becomes even more critical.
“Fundraising drives like these mean we can deliver vital aid like tents, water filters, and thermal blankets to people who need them. The wonderful people who donate through these vending machines will be making a tangible difference to people who have often lost not only their homes but loved ones and livelihoods too.”
ShelterBox is currently supporting people uprooted from their homes by disaster, conflict, and the climate crisis. It’s working in Gaza, Lebanon, the Philippines, Mozambique, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Bangladesh, Sudan, and Chad.
Light the World machines are being brought to the UK by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as part of their annual Light the World Christmas initiative.
Kirsty Moreton is the City Lead on behalf of the Church for the West Midlands Light the World machines campaign.
She says: “We are all so excited for the Light the World machines coming to this region, and feel it is a real privilege that Solihull is the first location to host this new initiative in the UK.
“This initiative is bringing together some wonderful international, national and local charities, and we are delighted by the support and enthusiasm for this project that we have received from Touchwood Shopping Centre.”
Every penny gifted through the Light the World machines will be going to the chosen cause. Generous people who want to make a donation will be able to choose from a selection of dozens of different charitable gifts by selecting the product they want, just like a normal vending machine.
Other charities involved in the initiative include FareShare, Jesuit Refugee Service, Muslim Aid, The Felix Project, and iDE, as well as local charity Little Hearts Matter.
ENDS
For more information contact the press office at ShelterBox via [email protected].
Notes to Editors
For more images and/or interview requests from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, contact Ben Cusack – [email protected] – 07971 991 398
Interviews available with Michelle Saxby, Head of Global Communications and PR at ShelterBox.
Images and captions included.
