On May 7, 2024, the ribbon was cut on a new, interactive “smart” vending machine located in the lobby of the Reading YMCA, 631 Washington St, Reading PA. The first of its kind in the state, the new machine offers health and wellness supplies at no cost, and also includes a touch screen with information on community services and resources, such as housing, food pantries, substance use treatment and more. Learn more about Health to Go
The new vending machine is the result of a collaboration between SOS Berks, Penn State College of Medicine, Council on Chemical Abuse and the Reading YMCA. Those entities spent over a year planning for the machine, which was created by SMRT1 Technologies.
About 40 people attended the ribbon cutting for the machine, which included speeches and demonstrations. Speakers included:
Pennsylvania has one of the highest overdose rates in the country. On average, 14 Pennsylvanians die every day. Today, with the Smart1 Vending Machine, we are trying to change that. — Jennifer Murphy, PhD
The new machine includes: personal care items, Narcan, drug checking strips, condoms, wound care kits, menstrual kits, pregnancy tests and more.
Watch this WFMZ news story about the machine.
Learn more about the Health to Go vending machine
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