A lot of people don’t like getting their wallets out in the street, and even
more find it rather intrusive when a collection box is shoved under their nose.
But it isn’t because we’re mean, says Terence Parkin of Addlestone, Surrey. He
reckons that people will happily donate their small change from vending machines
straight to charity (GB 2355102). So drinks and snacks machines could display a
message before giving change: “Do you want to give to charity?” If so, you push
a button that diverts the coins to a collection box inside the machine. The
amount of cash donated to date could be displayed to encourage people to raise
the total further, Parkin suggests.
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