Coinstar® kiosks have served as donation centers for many national charities for more than a decade. Donations are up this year, in part, due to generous consumer contributions during the summer months when hurricanes and other disasters left certain regions devastated. For the January through September period, donations collected at Coinstar kiosks equaled $6.7 million dollars, an increase of nearly 20 percent over the previous year.

“As we approach the giving season, we want to thank our customers who continue to give generously at our nearly 20,000 Coinstar kiosk locations across the country that are equipped to receive donations,” said Jim Gaherity, CEO of Coinstar. “Spare change can add up to significant amounts to benefit our charity partners as evidenced following this season’s major hurricanes. In August and September, nearly $106,000 was collected in coin donations at our kiosks for the American Red Cross to support disaster relief efforts. And the power of the penny should not be overlooked when it comes to meaningful fundraising. Approximately 1.3 million pennies were donated, which accounted for about 12 percent of the total raised for the Red Cross during this period.”

Coinstar kiosks, best known for converting coins to cash at convenient grocery and other retail locations, have a donation option that allow consumers to donate their change to national charities year-round. Consumers pay no fee to donate to a selection of non-profit organizations identified at the kiosk.

“The Red Cross is grateful for the generous donations made by Coinstar customers allowing our organization to continue relief efforts helping hundreds of thousands of people impacted by the historic devastation left in the wake of three major hurricanes,” said Don Herring, chief development officer at the American Red Cross. “We appreciate that Coinstar makes it easy for children and adults to donate their spare change. The Red Cross will continue to respond to those affected by recent natural disasters with food, shelter, and emergency relief supplies for months to come and we welcome continued donations in support of these efforts.”

Since the inception of the Coinstar donation option in 2006, consumers have donated more than $70 million to benefit non-profit organizations.

Consumers can find Coinstar kiosk locations accepting donations by visiting Coinstar.com.