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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The Detroit Pistons City Edition released their 2024-25 City Edition uniform that has the influence of the “Bad Boys” Pistons all over it.

This year’s uniforms are colored in “bone,” paying homage to the team’s Bad Boy mentality and the club’s second title team in 1990. 

The Pistons wordmark script is featured across the chest with vintage-inspired orange jersey numbers. The orange stripe down the side of the uniform is embossed with a repeating ’89-90 monochromatic number design.

In a nod to legendary Pistons coach Chuck Daly, who led the Bad Boys to five straight Eastern Conference Finals, three straight NBA Finals and won two back-to-back NBA titles solidifying their championship reputation, the jersey jock tag features a ‘Back-2-Back’ tag with Daly’s signature. 

DETROIT (FOX 2) – They spent years, some made it their career, risking it all to protect our country. On Wednesday, other people stepped up to serve veterans in their time of need.

It is all made possible through a partnership, providing veterans with special coats and more, and the special event just so happens to fall on World Kindness Day.

A little kindness can go a long way.

“We saved lives, that’s all we did was save lives. I thank god I was in the army,” said US Army Veteran Daniel Lennon. 

Veterans flocked to the Detroit VA Hospital on Wednesday to pick up a coat built to handle the cold winter months ahead.

“I think, unfortunately, we have a lot of veterans who sleep on the street, fought for our country, yet they came back to America, and they have nowhere to go, and they don’t have any clothes on their backs, and they have to come here to get a coat for the winter,” said US Navy Veteran Latuaska Carr.

The non-profit ‘Empowerment Plan’ gave out 100 of their ‘Empwr’ coats, geared towards combating homelessness.

“So what’s unfortunate is that our veterans make up a high population or high percentage of the un-housed population, and we want to help them as much as we can in any way we can,” said plan director Lauren Knill. “What’s really wonderful is our coat is disability accessible and so our veterans who are disabled who may be in a wheelchair, our coat features Velcro and other features that can help them get in and out of it much easier. And if they are in a wheelchair, they can still slide that bag over their feet and toes.” 

‘Empowerment Plan’ teamed up with the Detroit VA and the Detroit Pistons to dress vets for the winter ahead. 
They said this mission is all about raising homelessness awareness.

“Unfortunately, working in the homeless program, we see a lot of frostbite, a lot of subzero temperatures and so making sure these coats are appropriate for them to have,” said Chief of the Veterans Community Resource and Referral Center Beth Baker Callen. “They are having lunch today, they’re enjoying themselves. Different t-shirt giveaways, pendant giveaways. Mainly, we want to make sure that our veterans in those categories are supported.” 

That strong support is exactly what veterans felt, as they picked up a warm new coat and a bite to eat.

“I’m very appreciative, very appreciative,” said US Army Veteran James Holden. “Anything that they do for us veterans, I appreciate it.”