Nov 15, 2024

​ Zaman Featured in Giving Machine ​in Downtown Detroit


 

From Nov. 14 through Dec. 8 visitors to Campus Martius in downtown Detroit will be able to donate to Zaman and four other local nonprofit organizations through the Giving Machine – a “reverse vending machine” sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


The popular Giving Machine works in reverse by allowing users to donate much-needed items through local and global charities, and is now available for the first time to Michiganders. It provides an instant act of service for people looking to help those in their community and around the world – something that is in line with Zaman’s work to empower women to lift their families out of poverty.


“Every child has the right to dream, and every mother has the right to hope. Our work is to build a world where those dreams are not stolen by poverty,” said Najah Bazzy, Zaman CEO and Founder. 


For those looking to support Zaman’s mission of helping women to break the cycle of poverty, there are five items they can “purchase” ranging in cost from $15 to $100. One hundred percent of all of the donations go directly to Zaman.


Zaman Items in Giving Machine
 

  • $15 Halal Meat for a Family
    Give a family in need halal chicken or beef for culturally appropriate meals.
  • $25 ESL Instruction
    Provide increased understanding with one hour of ESL literacy instruction.
  • $50 Winter Coats for a Family
    Provide coats for a single mother and two children.
  • $75 Therapy for a Single Mom
    Provide a private session for a single mom with a licensed therapist.
  • $100 Refugee Housewarming Kit
    Supply household essentials for a refugee family to make a new home in Michigan.
     

Donations can also be made at lighttheworld.org/give for those unable to come to the machines in person. Just be sure to select Zaman from among the charities. Serving the Poorest of the Poor Zaman offers “one stop hope” at its Hope For Humanity Center in Inkster, Michigan. It serves marginalized women facing extreme poverty and typically trying to support their families on about $1,000 a month. Many are impacted by divorce, abuse, mental illness, abandonment and other challenges.


Zaman provides everything from basic necessities, such as food and clothing, to education, vocational training, and onsite employment. Its clients come from communities with some of the highest poverty rates in Michigan, including Inkster, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Detroit. Many of the women identify as Middle Eastern or North African and are refugees.


Other Detroit-Area Charities Featured 

In addition to Zaman, other Detroit-area nonprofit beneficiaries from the Giving Machine include: 

  • Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan
  • Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County
  • Focus: HOPE
  • Pope Francis Center

Donations can also be made at lighttheworld.org/give for those unable to come to
the machines in person.

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Giving Machine Donations Have Major Impact

"We are called to care for those in need and to be a light to the world,” said Jeff Day, a stake president in metro Detroit for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “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 alone approximately 600,000 individuals visited Giving Machines in Australia, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines and the United States, contributing US$10.4 million in donations. 

These generous donations resulted in:

  • More than 2 million meals to feed the hungry
  • 11,000 backpacks or boxes of school supplies
  • More than 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
  • And so much more!

Since the Giving Machines first launched in 2017, more than US $32 million has been collected.
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