Foodservice

Washington high school vending machine offers free meals to students

Photo: Adobe Stock

April 17, 2024

Weston High School in Arlington, Washington, has introduced a vending machine that provides free breakfast and lunch to students.

Approximately 74% of the students at Weston qualify for free or reduced meals, according to a King 5 news report.

"What we're hoping is that by them having access to food, not one meal but two, regardless of when they arrive, we'll see more of them," Principal Andrea Dixon-Hundredmark told the news outlet. The school administration hopes to increase student performance and attendance by filling a resource gap with this vending machine.

The vending machine offers food items ranging from yogurt to nachos all day long. If students arrive late to school, the vending machine makes it so they no longer need to miss a meal.