Fruits, vegetables, tea, and protein are the foods that will be offered. You won’t need cards or codes to access them. All you have to do is take them.
For those without the means, this program substitutes good nutrients for junk food, soft drinks, and candies. Families can skip the trouble of completing paperwork and waiting for authorization in order to obtain food because it is very simple to operate.
Why in the Bronx?
Nearly one in four households in the Bronx live below the poverty line, making it one of the city’s poorest areas. The Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club erected the first free vending machine as a result. Over 1,100 families have received more than 7,000 kg of food thus far.
As you may have heard, the Bronx is among New York’s most economically deprived neighborhoods. Eating healthily can occasionally be a true luxury for many families, with nearly one in four living below the poverty line.
For this reason, the first machine was placed at the Kips Bay Boys & Girl Club, which is used by numerous families on a daily basis. With fresh food to stock their refrigerators, technology ceases to be an oddity and instead becomes a buddy.
They have already shredded over 7,000 kilograms of food for over 1,100 people, and this is just the beginning!
Comparing the benefits of SNAP
We may compare this free machine to SNAP, the government food assistance program, to see its significance:
kind of assistance.
SNAP, a federal food assistance program
vending machine. A communal project that is free.
protocols.
SNAP. A lengthy and intricate application
vending machine. None; simply open and grab the meal.
People with little resources benefit from both methods, but this machine delivers nutritious food without any paperwork or delays, just a few steps from home.
What is the source of food from vending machines?
Young local farmers use hydroponic gardens, which produce more food in less time and area, to cultivate the majority of the food. This has a number of advantages:
Local, fresh produce for families in the area.
Opportunities for youth in the community to learn and work.
More free vending machines are to be installed in community centers, hospitals, schools, and transit hubs throughout New York City and other US cities.
Who is in charge of the project?
Change Food For Good, a nonprofit organization with headquarters in New York that aims to increase access to healthful food, is in charge of the project. The vending machine is a component of its Good Food For All initiative, which seeks to eliminate the typical obstacles that come with receiving traditional food aid.
Usually, the machine is replenished once or twice a month. Additionally, users can suggest specific items they would want to see in the future by scanning a QR code on the website; this feedback has already changed the content. For instance, cream cheese was added in response to persistent demands.
There is a lot of work and people working behind the scenes, so it is not magic at all. Hydroponic gardens are ideal for crowded cities like New York since they allow individuals to grow considerably more in tiny spaces (and faster).
The finest aspect of this project—or at least what we think is the best—is that it incorporates young people from the community and teaches them about sustainability and farming. As a result, it not only shares food but also gives residents of underprivileged neighborhoods opportunity.