CambridgeSide Announces Installation of the Giving Machine

CambridgeSide Announces Installation of the Giving Machine

Special Vending Machine with a Twist Provides Unique Way to Give to Area Charities

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS (November 2023) – CambridgeSide has announced the December 1 through December 31, 2023, installation of the Giving Machine. The Giving Machine is a special vending machine with a twist: users can purchase donations to charities by interacting with the two Giving Machines that will be located on Level 1 at CambridgeSide. 

Visitors can make donations by purchasing items ranging in price from $5 to $150 and include staples such as clothing and hygiene items, meals and school supplies, to livestock and life-saving medicine. One hundred percent of all donations made through the Giving Machines go directly to the participating charities because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints absorbs all machine costs. Local nonprofit beneficiaries this year include the Transformational Prison Project, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, Catholic Charities Boston and the International Institute of New England. 

“As a local faith community, we're learning that partnering with and supporting other nonprofit organizations helps us and the public serve our neighbors better than any of us could on our own; the Giving Machines simplify and celebrate the beauty of helping our neighbors together,” says Jared Chrislip, Communication Director, Greater Boston, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“CambridgeSide is pleased to support the Giving Machine, a wonderful and unique way for our visitors to make a difference this holiday season. The Giving Machine allows users to make a direct donation to local, and global, nonprofit organizations with 100 percent of each contribution going directly to the designated charity,” says Melissa LaVita, Regional Marketing Director of CambridgeSide.

“The Giving Machines are such a creative and meaningful way to raise the funds needed to care for our 10,000 patients. Providing high quality health care is critical for folks to survive and exit out of homelessness, and we are so grateful to be participating in this inspiring fundraiser,” says Linda O’Connor, Chief Development Officer at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program.

“The International Institute of New England is grateful for the Giving Machines' partnership. As thousands of refugee and immigrant families come to New England seeking safety and a new start, Giving Machines is helping us to shine a light on this immense need and to raise funds to provide these new families with hope and a future here,” says Alexandra Weber, Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer at International Institute of New England.

“We are honored to be a recipient of the Giving Machines program and are grateful for our continued partnership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. More than ever, families are reaching out for help as they struggle to afford groceries, manage heating costs, and budget for essential items such as diapers and winter clothing. This initiative provides an opportunity for people to have a meaningful impact on the most vulnerable in our community,” says Kelley Tuthill, President, Catholic Charities Boston.  

CambridgeSide  

The reimagined CambridgeSide is a place to shop, dine, work, indulge and relax in Cambridge, MA, just steps from downtown Boston. CambridgeSide features one great waterfront location with shops, restaurants and planned future office, lab, residential and additional retail, restaurants, and green spaces. CambridgeSide’s mix of retailers includes Apple, Superdry, Sephora, T.J.Maxx and more. The diverse mix of dining options includes The Cheesecake Factory, in addition to 12 eateries. CambridgeSide is located near top tourism attractions including the Museum of Science and Charles Riverboat. CambridgeSide is handicapped and MBTA accessible (Green Line T to Lechmere Station or Red Line T to Kendall Square to the free CambridgeSide Shuttle Bus), and offers attached, covered parking. For directions and information, call 617-621-8666 or visit CambridgeSide.com. CambridgeSide is a New England Development shopping destination.

Giving Machines

The Giving Machines are vending machines that offer convenient, cashless opportunities to give tangible donations to local and global charities. During holiday seasons since 2017, more than a dozen cities nationwide have hosted the “Giving Machines,” providing tax deductible gifts to charities that work in local communities and in far-away places. The sponsors, local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, choose partners that make a difference in the community and ensure they operate with low overhead costs. This debut year in Boston, the partners are Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, International Institute of New England, Catholic Charities Boston and Transformational Prison Project.

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