The University Health Center implemented a second “Wellness On-the-Go” vending machine over winter break adding onto the first located on the first floor of the Student Center.
On Dec. 18, the new vending machine was installed on the second floor of Academic Hall behind the elevators and provides low cost or no cost health items to students and faculty.
A vending machine was originally supposed to be installed in August but wasn’t due to it breaking. University Health Center Nurse Rebecca Harper said this vending machine replaces the one that was busted in August.
This adds a total of two “Wellness On-the-Go” vending machines on campus, with the other one being located on the first floor of the Student Center.
Harper said these machines were made possible by a grant from the Jewish Healthcare Foundation.
Scotland Huber, Chief Communications Officer for the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, said the grant is to purchase and maintain vending equipment and to provide pregnancy tests at no cost to individuals.
The implementation of the second vending machine allows for students to obtain these products.
“I am so excited to have both of them up and running and fully functional,” Harper said. “This gives easier access to students [in] Thayer and Lawrence hall.”
Huber said JHF encouraged schools to provide additional reproductive and wellness supplies to students.
“Point Park was awarded $10,000 to support the costs of purchasing and maintaining a vending machine for wellness items on campus,” Huber said. “Funding was also provided to purchase and provide pregnancy tests through the machines for free.”
For now, these two vending machines are the only ones that will be on campus.
“If the Jewish Healthcare Foundation offers this grant again, we will reevaluate,” Harper said.
While the vending machine in Academic Hall does not have Plan B, Harper says that it will still be in the Student Center vending machine and in the Health Center.
“I have plenty of Plan B in stock, so if someone needs it, just because they want it for peace of mind, they can stop by the Health Center,” Harper said. “But I do ask that people don’t just take it to stock up from the vending machine. We want it there so if somebody truly has a contraceptive emergency that it’s available to them.”
Harper also said if anyone ever has an issue with the vending machines or has questions or concerns, they should reach out to her Point Park email [email protected].
