Health department installs fifth ‘HealthToGo’ vending machine in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department on Thursday announced the location of a fifth HealthToGo vending machine.

The fifth machine is located on North 27th Street under the Elaine Hammer Bridge.

The health department recently installed four vending machines across the city of Lincoln that offer free health, hygiene and safety supplies.

SEE ALSO: Health department installs four ‘HealthToGo’ vending machines across Lincoln

“We’ve had a lot of interest in the HealthToGo machines, and residents are accessing health supplies they may need with almost 3,400 products dispensed since the machines were installed in mid-January,” said Kerry Kernen, Health Director.

Lincolnites can find the machines at the following locations:

• Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, 3131 O Street
• F Street Community Center, 1225 F Street
• Union Plaza, southeast corner of 21st and P streets
• Carriage Park Parking Garage, 1128 L Street – northeast corner of 11th and L streets, ground level next to the bike racks
• North 27th Street under the Elaine Hammer Bridge

The health department is hand-selecting a range of products stocked in the vending machine based on community needs.

Items currently available include:

• Feminine hygiene products
• Condoms
• Pregnancy tests
• At-home HIV tests
• Emergency contraception
• Naloxone (Narcan) – medication used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose

When residents use the vending machines, demographic information — such as ZIP code, age, and race — is collected.

HealthToGo does not ask for identification or personal health information.

A $75,000 grant funded the vending machines through the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

Lincoln Hygiene Network, Community Health Endowment, Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, and Women’s Fund of Omaha provided resources and items for the machines.

Residents can see what items are currently in stock in the HealthToGo machines by checking the new HealthToGo Vending Machine Inventory Dashboard at lincoln.ne.gov/HealthToGo.