Nairobi is set to become the first African city to host the innovative Giving Machines, a charitable initiative supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The launch event will take place on November 30, 2024, at noon on Level One of Sarit Centre, with the machines operating through January 1, 2025, on Level Two of the same location.
Giving Machines are large red vending machines through which individuals can donate specific items such as clothing, baby supplies, food, school materials, medicine, and even livestock like chickens and goats. These items will be distributed by six local NGOs in Nairobi. The Giving Machines allow users to select from a variety of needed products to support both local and global charities.
The first introduction of these machines in Africa was announced during an event on October 11, 2024, at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club, following a benefit golf tournament for the Giving Machines. This initiative, which began in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2017, has since expanded globally, with machines in 61 cities by 2023. By December 2024, Nairobi will join 106 cities worldwide hosting Giving Machines.
Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, President of the Africa Central Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, expressed his excitement: “We are thrilled to have Giving Machines for the first time in Africa, in Nairobi, this December and January. The Giving Machines engage the community in lifting and changing lives as Kenyans contribute specific products and services to people in need.”
Six NGOs in Kenya will be featured in the Nairobi Giving Machines, including Kenya Red Cross, UNICEF, Uthabiti of Kenya, Clean Up Kenya, Church World Service, and Caritas of Kenya. All machine costs, including transaction fees, are covered by the Church, ensuring 100% of donations go directly to the NGOs. Donations can range from Sh200 to Sh10,000, offering an accessible way for the public to give back to their community.
