Vending Machine Provides For The Homeless

This special vending machine, created by Action Hunger, gives free food and clothes to the homeless.

“We wanted to provide an emergency helpline. Out of hours. 24/7. There’s so many food banks and shelters that are doing a great job, but they close at a certain time and they open at a certain time,” explained Edward Wilding, member of the Action Hunger Board of Trustees. “And out of those hours, that’s it. These people are living rough on the streets. A lot of people turn to crime just to steal food.”

But through this 24-hour system, homeless shelters give customers an activated card, which gives them access to items in the machine like power bars, water and even books. In order to create the machine, the UK nonprofit sat down with homeless people to determine what would go inside. They always knew to supply food and water, but the people they spoke with suggested that they stock socks, gloves, hats and sanitary products.

The food inside the machines is often left over from grocery chains and the clothes are donated or purchased through fundraising money. In order to receive these cards, customers also have to actively be going to the shelters and showing support in their programs. This encourages them to take part in shelter benefits, while preventing them from becoming dependent on the machines.

An estimated 8,000 people live on the street in London every year, and while poverty is far from being eradicated, implementations like the vending machines definitely help the cause.