In my post Let the Holiday’s Begin I shared an image of the giving machine that would be located at the Dimond Mall in Anchorage, Alaska along with the scheduled times and dates it would be open. I was super excited to visit this machine some time this season, and to buy a chicken for someone!

On Saturday a couple of friends, a couple of my kids, and I were able to make it into Anchorage and go find the machine!! The mall was crazy, the stores were crazy, but it was the only time we knew for sure we would be able to get there.

The machines are set up like vending machines, but instead of candy and drinks, there are items to buy for others. Several different local charities had items, like fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy snacks, gloves, meals, seeds, and so much more.

Then there were world wide organizations that had items like infant resuscitation kits, polio vaccines, emergency food packs, and of course, chickens! That’s why I had originally gone, but seeing all the need, we stopped to review all the different needed items.

The prices ranged from about $7 to some items being around $350. You could also donate to one of the specific organization, one of everything on their list (price depended on the listed items). The last option was to buy one of everything in the vending machine. I knew I couldn’t afford that, so I don’t know how much it cost, but it would have been really cool.

Our donations went to local and world wide charities, and of course, one of the things I had to buy was a chicken! It was interesting to see the different items needed, and to be grateful for the ability to not only take care of our own needs, but to also reach out and help someone else in an area of their need.

This was such a fun way to help out, and fun to take several of my kids to participate as well. I didn’t ask them to donate anything, I was just glad for the company for the afternoon. But, as I was breaking one machine, they were at the other machine picking out and paying for items on their own (they did get the other machine working, I’m fairly sure).

The one in Anchorage will be open until December 31, so there will be time after Christmas to donate as well. I’m not sure what the timeframe for other giving machines will be.

This is a great time of year to remember and be grateful for everything we have, but also to look beyond ourselves and see other people’s needs and try to help. The Giving Machine’s are a simple way to do so. I’m grateful they finally brought one to Anchorage. Not sure it’ll be there next year as they move them to different locations around the country every year, but I’m glad they brought one this year!