photo credit: Sonoma County Department of Health Services
Health to Go vending machine with free supplies for harm reduction and other needs

As part of a new public initiative, Sonoma County is launching an innovative kind of vending machine. These aren't your typical snack dispensers. Instead, they're stocked with free, potentially lifesaving and health-promoting supplies.

Ryan DeHart is with the Sonoma County Department of Health Services. He says the county is rolling out these machines to offer residents easy and private access to essential items.

“Well, really the goal of the project from our perspective is to be able to break down barriers, or at least reduce barriers, for individuals to get supplies that help strengthen healthiness throughout our community, but help to prevent harm throughout our communities as well. We believe that the products that we’ve been able to stock in these vending machines are able to do just that,” said DeHart.

The initial phase of the rollout includes the installation of three machines at key locations: the Russian River Health and Wellness Center in Guerneville, the Bertolini Student Center at Santa Rosa Junior College, and the Sonoma County Public Health Offices on Aviation Boulevard in Santa Rosa.

Each machine will dispense a range of ten items, including Narcan to reverse opioid overdoses, condoms for disease prevention, fentanyl test strips, and COVID tests.

DeHart says they used data to help determine what should be included in the vending machines.

“For example we have socks within these vending machines, and those are one of the top requested items for unhoused individuals within our county,” DeHart explained. “Things like cable gun locks came out of a partnership that we have with Veterans Affairs about violence prevention and secure gun handling.”

Users will be limited to three items per transaction, and all packaging will be discreet.

While participation is anonymous, the machines will ask for a few demographic questions, which the county says will to help refine the products offered based on community needs.

And staff say the height of the vending machines and the screener questions help to child-proof the machines.

Up to four additional "Health To Go" vending machines are planned for other parts of Sonoma County in the future.