ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The City of Allentown has installed its first public health vending machine, providing residents with free, confidential access to essential health and safety supplies 24 hours a day.
The machine, located at The Lehigh Conference of Churches at 457 W. Allen Street, is now fully stocked and operational. A second location will be announced soon, according to city officials.
The bright navy blue and pink vending machine features instructions in both English and Spanish.
Items available include naloxone (opioid overdose reversal medication), wound care kits, reproductive and sexual health kits, hygiene and first-aid supplies, and educational materials.
The machines will soon be stocked with menstrual products, including pads and tampons, with additional space reserved for toothbrushes and other hygiene products based on community needs.
The initiative is part of the city’s Substance Use Task Force, which aims to expand community health support and reduce barriers to care. By placing machines in trusted, accessible locations, the city is taking steps to address public health challenges and ensure residents have access to safety tools around the clock.
Opioid settlement funds provide funding for the vending machines. Lehigh County received $17 million in 2023 as part of a $26 billion nationwide settlement with major drug distributors and pharmaceutical manufacturers to address opioid addiction prevention and treatment.
The Allentown Health Bureau is accepting donations of menstrual products, which can be purchased through Amazon and shipped directly to the Health Bureau at 245 N. 6th Street or dropped off in person.
For questions about the program, residents can call the Allentown Health Bureau at 610-437-7760.
Jai Smith is a lifetime Lehigh Valley resident on a mission to empower local underserved communities and inform the public while providing journalists and storytellers a platform to develop the next generation of news media.