Detroit, MI

\u200bDetroit’s first ‘Giving Machines’ open in Campus Martius for holiday season

Published

1 year ago

November 14, 2024

$\u200bDetroit’s first ‘Giving Machines’ open in Campus Martius for holiday season$

Detroit — Want to help those in need of necessities such as a new car seat, a first-aid kit or a warm shower? Now there’s a new way in downtown Detroit to provide those and other goods and services to the less fortunate: reverse vending machines.

Thursday morning, officials from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints turned on two Giving Machines in Campus Martius, where passersby can buy items and services that range from blankets and boots to meals and hygiene products.

The tall red machines drew curious onlookers who snapped photos and checked out the donation options. Donna Orlando, 58, of Metamora, noticed the “warm boots” option and said the device should be available all the time.

“It gives people the opportunity to give whatever they can,” Orlando said. “I think it should be here all the time, not just for the holidays, because people could always use that kind of stuff.”

Until Dec. 8, donors can donate from $5 to $250 for items and services that include safe births, educational supplies, emergency shelter, beehives and goats that will be supplied via local and global charities. When a giver makes a purchase, a card for that good or service drops to the bottom of the machine, which dispenses a receipt.

La’Chelle Phillips, 35, of Detroit, said the machines are perfectly positioned to attract donations ahead of downtown Detroit’s holiday tree lighting Friday, Nov. 22. Phillips is a community activist with her mom on Detroit’s east side and said it’s “nice and convenient” for people to be able to donate for items and services in the downtown area.

“Bus passes: those are things people need. On my street (Park Grove), my mom started a block club and those are things we would give,” Phillips said.

“We are called to care for those in need and to be a light to the world,” said Jeff Day, a stake president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the release. “We strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ by loving others as He loves each of us. We’re excited to come together with diverse faith communities to demonstrate this love.”

During the 2023 holiday season, about 600,000 people visited giving machines in Australia, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines and the United States and purchased a total of $10.4 million in donations, according to the release. Since the machines were launched in 2017, more than $32 million has been collected.

The impact: 2 million meals for the hungry; 11,000 backpacks or boxes of school supplies; and 17,000 goats, 125,000 chickens, 2,100 beehives, 1,500 pigs and 1,400 sheep providing families with long-term nutrition and income potential.

The Detroit-area nonprofit beneficiaries are the Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, Zaman International, Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, Focus: HOPE and the Pope Francis Center.

Donations can also be made online, with 100% of proceeds going directly to the participating charities.

mjohnson@detroitnews.com

@_myeshajohnson

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Detroit, MI

Metro Detroit weather forecast, March 26, 2026 — 11 p.m. Update

Published

9 hours ago

March 27, 2026

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Metro Detroit weather forecast, March 26, 2026 — 11 p.m. Update

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Detroit, MI

Fangirl Culture is Front and Center as Detroit Mercy Theatre Company Presents a Zany Y2K Comedy

Published

21 hours ago

March 26, 2026

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Fangirl Culture is Front and Center as Detroit Mercy Theatre Company Presents a Zany Y2K Comedy

I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire closes Detroit Mercy’s 55th Season

DETROIT — Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC) closes the inaugural season of the new Detroit

Mercy Black Box Theatre with I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire by Samantha Hurley, playing April 10-19 on University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus.

I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire is set in 2004 and follows 14-year-old Shelby Hinkley, who is obsessed with Hollywood star Tobey Maguire and creates a play to kidnap and marry him in her basement.

“This play is as hilarious as it is heartfelt,” said DMTC managing director Sarah Rusk. “Shelby truly believes Tobey Maguire is her destiny, and through her obsession we get a look into the complicated emotions of growing up during the Y2K era.”

“I absolutely love working with young actors,” said director Cassandra Svacha.

Student Actor, Rileyt McDevitt. Detroit Mercy — *Student actor* ***Riley McDevitt,*** *Photo by Alan Devlin*

“Watching them create and rise to the challenge is thrilling. I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire to college-aged kids is like a period piece; none of them were alive when this story takes place so it’s extra fun to have them dive into this world in an anthropologic way. They aren’t reminiscing or remembering 2004, they have to study that world and build it for themselves.”

I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire runs six performances April 10-19 at the new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre on University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus. The DMTC Ticket Office is open Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., with tickets being available for purchase anytime online at www.DetroitMercyArts.com.

Individual tickets are $25 for adults, $18 for seniors and Detroit Mercy faculty, staff and alumni, and $10 for veterans and students (ages 4-college). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. To schedule your group, contact Sarah Rusk at 313-993-3273.

Those looking to buy tickets should note that the play is rated R and contains adult language and

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Pistons and A Kid Again team up to give children with illnesses a special night at the arena

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

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Detroit Pistons and A Kid Again team up to give children with illnesses a special night at the arena

DETROIT (WXYZ) — More than 600 family members facing life-threatening conditions stepped into Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday night to enjoy a Detroit Pistons game, thanks to a partnership with the organization A Kid Again.

Watch Christiana Ford’s video report:

Detroit Pistons host a special game night for kids with illnesses

Nine-year-old Kendall Yarbrough, who has lupus, picked out her outfit the night before the game. At center court, her focus was on being the best fan she could be.

“Feeling good, pretty good,” Yarbrough said, getting ready to go down to the court for the fan tunnel.

WXYZ-TV

Her mom surprised her with the news the night before.

“Yesterday she told me I was coming and I got really excited and I couldn’t really sleep,” Yarbrough said.

For the fourth year, A Kid Again partnered with the Pistons to create a behind-the-scenes adventure tailored for children with medical conditions. The event removes barriers like dietary restrictions and accessibility issues so families can focus on having a good time.

“We give them opportunities to come to events like tonight to meet with other families going through similar situations as well as just giving them a time that they can be a family and be together,” Amy Vining said.

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Vining, the executive director of A Kid Again, has a personal mission to help these families.

“My youngest was born with a condition called craniosynostosis. He had his skull remodeled at 4 months old at CS Mott Children’s Hospital, and I’ve always been a part of the non-profit community,” Vining said. “Going through that experience with my own child, his surgery corrected itself, but I saw so many children that were a part of the hospital at that time that were going to have lifelong complications from the conditions that they had, and I knew at some point in my non-profit journey that I wanted to give back to those families.”

Vincent Larkins, a 9th grader living with an undiagnosed rare neuromuscular disorder, also attended the game with his mom and three brothers who share the same disorder.

“It seems like it’s a very big deal, and I’m pretty excited to see the players up in person. I’ve never done something like this before, so I’m pretty happy,” Larkins said.

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Their mom, Alison Zanella, says the event provided a rare moment of rest for the kids who stood alongside players during the National Anthem.

“The only normal kid thing they do is go to school. Everything else is therapy and doctors appointments every day,” Zanella said.“It was really just about a chance to give the kids a break and let them be kids for the night.”

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A Kid Again is a national organization with a mission to foster hope, happiness, and healing for children with life-threatening health conditions and their families. The organization provides cost-free, consistent, year-round activities that create meaningful shared experiences and joy-filled memories.

A Kid Again Michigan was established in December 2021 and currently serves more than 1850 families throughout the state.

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This story was reported on air by a journalist and has been converted for this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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