On December 19, the Stockholm City Mission and LFV began a unique collaboration by installing the City Mission’s Givomat at Stockholm-Arlanda − the first such machine installed in Sweden.
“This represents a whole new way of making a charitable donation. A Givomat is like a Bankomat − a Swedish cash dispenser or ATM − but it works exactly the opposite way, by letting you contribute money using your debit or credit card. Our goal is to enable Stockholmers to encounter Givomats in many locations during 2008,” says Marika Markovits, Managing Director of Stockholm City Mission (Stockholms Stadsmission).
The first Givomat has been installed in the domestic Terminal 4 at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport. After New Year, another will be installed in domestic Terminal 3. Posted on the Givomats is information about the City Mission’s activities, along with an appeal to donate money. Those donating money may themselves choose the amount they want to give and to what area of the charity’s activities. Founded in 1853, the City Mission mainly provides services for homeless people and youth.
”Arlanda, with its numerous travellers − around 50,000 people pass through here every day − is an excellent arena for various kinds of exposure. We have collaborated for some time with other non-profit organisations and we are also happy to support the Stockholm City Mission,” says Kerstin Lindberg Göransson, Managing Director of Stockholm-Arlanda Airport.
The Givomat is the latest product from Palatin Technologies of Helsingborg, Sweden, which is also behind the Kollektomat, a device aimed at increasing donations by Church of Sweden parishioners. Kollektomats are found in many Swedish churches, from Uppsala Cathedral − seat of the Archbishop − to small parish churches. They generate large sums of money for the Church of Sweden. A donation is paid in the same way that people make other card payments today, and donors receives a receipt as proof of their contribution.
Those wishing to see the Givomat and contribute a small sum are welcome to Terminal 4. The Givomat is located on the left side, just inside the security screening checkpoint.
For further information, please contact:
Stina Bengtsson, Information Officer, Stockholms Stadsmission, mobile 070-751 81 76.
Patrik Haggren, Head of Fundraising, Stockholms Stadsmission, 070-751 86 50.