The Bronx now has a free fresh food vending machine offering fresh whole foods like eggs, meat and fresh produce
14:02 ET, 24 Nov 2025Updated 14:04 ET, 24 Nov 2025
The initiative aims to combat food insecurity(Image: changefoodforgood/Instagram)
New York City has long been dotted with vending machines offering tempting snacks and beverages. But now, instead of junk food, the Bronx has its first free fresh food vending machine offering nutritious essentials such as eggs, meat and fresh produce.
The initiative, which aims to combat food insecurity, comes from the NYC-based nonprofit organization Change Food for Good. The free food vending machine is currently located on the ground floor of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in Castle Hill, making it a convenient spot for families in the area.
“All you need to do is walk up to the machine, select your item, let it vend, and remove it from the chute,” the organization explained on Instagram.
READ MORE: New ultra-processed food study exposes risk of major health concernsREAD MORE: All SNAP recipients have to reapply to make sure ‘they can’t survive without it’How does NYC’s Free Food Vending Machine work?
The nonprofit tracks the food using an app, so it can assess what food item is in high demand.
The app monitors the food’s stock level, so the organization knows when to restock the items.
Change Food for Good revealed on social media that the machine will be restocked approximately once or twice per month. The machine also contains a QR code where users can request certain items to be added to it in future restocks.
Some items are packaged differently in the vending machine for convenience purposes.
Garlic is in a vacuum-sealed package to prevent it from stinking up the machine, and berry containers are manually taped to keep them firmly shut while the vending machine is operating.
The nonprofit tracks the food using an app, so it can assess what food item is in high demand(Image: changefoodforgood/Instagram)What types of food are available in NYC’s Free Food Vending Machine?
As per the Change Food ror Good’s Instagram page, the machine will be stocked with “free, quality grocery items like eggs, fruit, veggies, and much more.”
“After over 15,500 lbs of free food distributed to more than 1,100 families in NYC, we’re hoping this new model for distribution can provide folks with good food easily and when they need or want it,” the organization wrote in a caption on Instagram.
Who is eligible for the Free Food Vending Machine?
“With rising grocery prices affecting everyone, we truly hope that this machine can help families that need it, but also,” the group added, “that changemakers, community organizations, and activists can take this model for free food distribution and run with it — to place free food vending machines in schools, hospitals, anywhere that they think it will be best served.”
You can donate to the initiative online.