The ASB has held true to its promise to set up a vending machine for students to use throughout the school day.
The idea of creating a vending machine was pitched by ASB earlier in the year but was finally carried out today, April 8. Thanks to student council and the kitchen staff, students are able to buy wraps and other items at a very low price near the barbeque grill.
Rather than offering junk food, the vending machine provides healthy snacks that students can access throughout the day. Options range from pistachios and Cliff Bars to Gatorade to Izze Sparkling Juices and turkey wraps.
Students appreciate the wide range of wholesome food compared to the less healthy alternatives found at the snack bar. Junior Pooja Chirala finds that the vending machine is much more “appropriate” and prefers it to the snack bar due to its “larger variety of healthy food.”
Other students, however, believe that not all of the food available from the vending machine are nutritious.
“I feel like the vending machine offers healthier options, […] but not as healthy as could be, “ Ajay Chitkara (10) said. “For example, the Kern’s Mango Juice can contains the same amount of sugar […] as a regular Coke can. Besides a couple of options, the others are healthy, appetizing, and awesome.”
ASB President Raghav Sethia (12) explained that past issues with a vending machine led to problems with re-launching the project.
“Basically, the issue with the vending machines in the past was that they were vandalized by non Harker students during athletic events and over the weekend [and] there weren’t enough people purchasing items so it led to a loss of money,” he said.
Raghav hopes that keeping the vending machines “behind closed doors” will inhibit vandalism, allowing for further utilization.
Vending machine prices range from 75 cents to $2 allowing students to buy healthy food at a cheap price.