'Giving Machines' have been put outside the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Manhattan for the festive period.

The clever machines allow people to donate to charities and receive a physical representation of their donation dropped from the vending machine.

Instead of buying a chocolate bar or soda, customers can choose to give a goat, an eye exam, new school shoes or clean water, to disadvantaged people across the world.

The festive machines allow people to donate to charities and receive a physical representation of their donation dropped from the vending machine

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lincoln Square, Manhattan where the machines have been set up over the festive period

A customer browses the selection available and the prices, as the machine is stacked with charitable opportunity

The Mormon church distributes the funds donated at the vending machines through their partners, including UNICEF and Water Aid.

The church say on their website, 'These vending machines symbolically illustrate how easy it is to donate to charities by allowing donors to instantly give instead of receive.

'Using credit cards, people can purchase representations of items like a goat or a chicken, socks, a new pair of school shoes, an eye exam, clean water, baby supplies, first aid kits, medication, and food.'

Amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers in Manhattan the machines provide an easy way for people to carry out their Christian duty

The machines which are part of the church's 'Light the World' campaign can be found in Manhattan, New York, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Gilbert, Arizona, in Hyde Park, London and in Manila, in the Philippines.

The Mormon 'Light the World' initiative strives to get people to act with generosity every week throughout the year in new ways.