Vending

Nonprofit Bridge installs public health vending machine in Boston

Photo: Adobe Stock

September 8, 2025

Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a local nonprofit assisting homeless teens and young adults, has installed a public health vending machine at its downtown Boston welcome center on West Street, according to a Boston 25 News report.

The machine provides "low-barrier access to public health supplies and resources," according to Bridge Program Director Peter Ducharme. Items available include Narcan for reversing overdoses, fentanyl test strips, pregnancy tests and other health and wellness products like toothpaste and hand warmers. The goal is to provide convenient access to these items and reduce stigma.

This is the fifth such machine in Boston, funded by the Boston Public Health Commission through the city's opioid response settlement fund. Registered clients of Bridge receive a code to use the machine.