Vending
Ponca Tribe of Nebraska launches vending machines with lifesaving supplies
June 4, 2025
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is installing specialized vending machines at its health centers, stocked not with food, but with free, potentially life-saving supplies. The initiative aims to provide discreet access to essential resources for individuals in need, according to a Nebraska Now report.
These machines will be available in five Nebraska locations: Lincoln, Omaha, Niobrara and Norfolk, as well as one in Sioux City, Iowa. The vending machines will contain items such as Narcan, fentanyl testing strips and first aid kits. Beyond addiction-related supplies, they will also offer feminine hygiene kits, pregnancy tests and sun safety products. All items are free to anyone who needs them.
"These vending machines are just one way of us meeting you where you're at when you need help," LuAnne Even, the chief behavioral health officer at Ponca Health Services, told the news outlet.
The project aims to reduce the harm associated with substance use, save lives by providing overdose reversal tools, and serve as an initial point of contact for individuals considering recovery. The Ponca Tribe also plans to include culturally significant items like sage, smudge and bead kits in the machines soon and is considering expanding the initiative to include outdoor machines for 24-hour access if a need is demonstrated.
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