Charity Vending Machines at Temple Square

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Before reading I thought this was going to be about sticking a $20 in a vending machine so the next person that comes along doesn’t have to pay. “What does that accomplish?”

I’m glad they had a bigger imagination than I did.

:thumbup:

One thing about the Church I really appreciate, is I DO trust them (for the most part) with my charitable donations. Other organizations have too big of an overhead, with CEOs making in 7-figure salaries. With other organizations, when you “buy” specific items as a donation, it all really just goes to a huge fund the heads divvy out however they feel. Not sure if the Church is doing the same here, but I feel more confident in it actually going towards a good cause.

I think that’s a good point.

I get the sense that people give more to charity when there are prizes/souvenirs/theatrics involved. I don’t think this is a bad thing at all- so long as it isn’t commercialized (people tend to pay more for something when part of the proceeds go to charity- for example: Toms shoes are about 10x the cost they should be considering the quality, but people will pay big money to virtue signal that they’re helping poor people on the other side of the world. A lot of it is profit even after donating a pair across the world.). Helping those in need is great and I like that the church is supporting charities other than itself.

I get the sense that people give more to charity when there are prizes/souvenirs/theatrics involved. I don’t think this is a bad thing at all- so long as it isn’t commercialized

I remember getting a letter in the mail from the BYU alumni association. It was a request for donations for the association to provide scholarships. There was a letter with a picture of a young woman that had needed and received a scholarship. She talked about how she was accepted into the school but did not have the money to pay. How she did everything she could, applied for every program she could, and then left it to God. The scholarship was an answer to prayer. She regarded the money as a sacred trust, a vote of confidence in her ability but also a responsibility to not squander the gift. She went on a mission with a desire to give back, because she had been given much. She married in the temple to a wonderful young man. She graduated in a field that will allow her to continue making an important contribution and giving back to her community and the world. Now she is writing this letter to thank those that believed in her.

I usually throw these kinds of letters into the trash as junk mail but I was moved. DW and I made a donation that day. I can appreciate the benefit of prizes/souvenirs/theatrics to help the individual giver feel good about the donation and to remember that feeling.