Step into Historic Downtown McKinney this holiday season and discover more than twinkling lights and festive cheer: the Texas Giving Machine is back. Now through Dec. 4, families and friends can experience the joy of giving firsthand, turning simple acts of generosity into lasting impact through custom vending machines that allow donations of goods and services.
Visitors can “purchase” gifts for people in need — from warm clothing, food and hygiene kits to livestock and meals — with a simple card swipe. In most places, Giving Machines accept credit and debit cards and mobile payment services. Each donation goes directly to local and global charities, making it easy to celebrate the season while helping those who need it most.
This year, the local Giving Machine will be located at McKinney Performing Arts Center, 111 N. Tennessee St.
This stop offers a perfect way for North Texans to gather with friends and family, share the spirit of the holidays, and create a meaningful tradition of giving in the heart of the community.
One hundred percent of every donation goes directly to the participating charities, thanks to sponsorship by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This year’s Texas Giving Machines will benefit seven nonprofits serving both local and global communities:
- Evergreen Life Services
- CASA for Kids of East Texas
- ACH Child and Family Services
- Hope Restored Missions
- Lifting Hands International
- USA for UNHCR
- Friends of Shiloh Field Garden
The Dallas-Fort Worth area is home to three of the 11 Texas Giving Machine locations and among more than 100 cities worldwide, part of the Light the World campaign by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Participating with friends at a Texas Giving Machine location and making a donation is one of the best ways to keep Jesus Christ in Christmas,” says Elder Jeremy Grisel, Area Seventy for the Church in North Texas. “It is festive, it is meaningful for the giver and the receiver, and it connects us with our community. Our family loves this tradition and we hope to see y’all there.”
For local nonprofit leaders, the impact goes beyond donations.
“What a wonderful time of year it is to be a part of the Giving Machine,” says Tamara Monroe, founder and CEO of Hope Restored Missions, a nonprofit whose supporters focus on low-income and housing-vulnerable local residents as well as those in need abroad. “Please support the Giving Machine to help someone make a difference in their lives.”
Previous Giving Machine charities near McKinney include Hugs Cafe, Samaritan Inn and Lovepacs.
Since the first Giving Machine launched in 2017, hundreds of thousands of givers worldwide have donated more than $50 million, providing real help to those in need and lighting the world one swipe at a time.