Vending machines designed specifically for homeless people are making their debut in Britain just in time for the holidays.
Available 24/7, the machine will be placed outside Broadmarch shopping center in Nottingham and will be stocked with fresh fruit, toiletries, socks, energy bars, and sandwiches. Up to 100 homeless people will be given key cards for the pilot program. Action Hunger is partnering with a local outreach center that will help distribute the key cards.
Those who receive a card will be able to 'purchase' three free items per day from the dispenser. To help prevent fraud, people who want to continue participating in the program will have to check in once a week to remain eligible.
It may be the first vending machine of its kind, but Action Hunger says it won't be the last. The group wants to install similar machines across the world in cities like Seattle, Los Angeles and New York City.
Action Hunger's website says the new machines are the first of their kind in the world and are a way to help alleviate poverty and hardship among the homeless.
The machines dispense water, fresh fruit, energy bars, crisps, chocolate, and sandwiches, as well as socks, sanitary towels, antibacterial lotion, toothbrush and toothpaste combination packs, and books. A considerable amount of the food we vend is received from redistribution organisations that seek to reduce food waste.
The group acknowledges that they aren't out to end homelessness, but instead help make life easier by providing 'nourishment to the most vulnerable members of society' and work in concert with existing charities to ensure that help is always available.
The machines are stocked through donations from FareShare, a supermarket surplus chain, with the other half coming from purchases by Action Hunger itself.
If you'd like to help Action Hunger with their work, you can donate to their charity here.