For three weeks, Tri-Citians can donate to five local and two international nonprofits in a unique way – via a vending machine.

Two Giving Machines are coming to the Queensgate Fairchild Cinemas at 2880 Lincoln Landing in Richland this holiday season. 

The two bright red vending machines will pop up on Nov. 21 and stay through Dec. 10. 

They look and work like normal vending machines, but instead of selecting a can of soda or snack, donors can support a nonprofit of their choice by buying shoes for a job interview, an hour of mental health counseling, chickens for a family in a developing country and more. 

The front of the machines will display pictures of the needed items, along with a price, a description of what they will be used for and logo of the nonprofit they will go to.

Once the buyer has paid via credit card, a picture of the item drops to the bottom of the machine and the donor gets a receipt.

Item prices range from $5 to $140.

A special code, 777, allows buyers to buy one of every item in the Giving Machine – a total of $1,515.

At the end of the Giving Machines’ stay, 100% of the money from each item will go to the respective nonprofits, with the stipulation that they buy the items donors paid for. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties, Grace Clinic, Grace Collective, Lutheran Community Services Northwest and Safe Harbor Support Center will be featured in the Giving Machines along with two international nonprofits, Care and Water for Good. 

The nonprofits were chosen through an application process. 

It’s the first time since the Giving Machines launched in 2017 that they’ll be in the Tri-Cities, said Kristin Hunt, Giving Machine assistant city lead. 

The Richland machines are among those at 126 locations worldwide. They are an initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Throughout the time the Giving Machines are in Richland, volunteers will be on hand nearby wearing something red – whether a shirt, scarf or beanie – to answer questions people may have about the machines. 

Special musical numbers also will take place in the theater lobby, and Hunt said the Giving Machine committee anticipates people coming from across the region, including Walla Walla, Yakima and Hermiston, to donate.

The Tri-Cities applied alongside Spokane to get a machine, so after its time in Richland, the machine will move on to its Spokane location for an additional three weeks. 

Hunt said the hope is that the Giving Machine will return to the Tri-Cities for many years to come.

Donors don’t have to buy a theater ticket to enter the lobby and visit the Giving Machines. 

For more information, go to: givingmachinetricities.org or facebook.com/GivingMachineTriCities.