Pantry Vending Review

Pantry Vending was, in essence, an excellent solution to the issue of hunger. We can all admit that while food programs like SNAP (Food Stamps) are in place, the practice of using them are not heavily regulated. Just about anyone can use the food card if they know the PIN number and have an available balance. Pantry Vending ACTUALLY provides a viable solution to that problem.

Requiring the actual weight and pressure of a fingerprint that is unique to that person and that person only prevents the problem that a card w/ PIN comes with. Even though a fingerprint can be stolen, with multiple people using the machine in a day, one solid fingerprint cannot be stolen. The Vending Machine-style vendor could present a few problems. With everyone being able to see what's inside the machine, what's truly going to stop them from going breaking in? The truth of the matter is, Memphis and other surrounding areas have a very large crime rate, and people will not hesitate to take something if they are met with no resistance. I know, because I work at Family Dollar and we have people steal things at least 4 times a day and it gets tiresome trying to do my job and watch for shoplifters. How can you be sure that the volunteers do their job correctly? With this being a non-profit, their is no financial gain for the volunteers, which means they are doing this out the kindness of their heart. But, what happens when that kindness is replaced with laziness? Some vending machines may go un-stocked. Most vending machines are constantly stocked because they are paid to do so. Money is their motivation. If the volunteers are not as dedicated are others, machines in various zip codes will go unstocked, leaving families that needed that vending machine hungry and unsure how they will feed their family. Which brings me to my third point: Zoning. From what was described, you will assign families to a vendor based on their zip code. I believe it's safe to assume that the vending machine will be restocked based on how many families in that area use Pantry Vending. Therefore, how will you prevent zone crossovers? Will there be a fail-safe feature that prevents that thumbprint from being accessed in that are code? These are just potential problems in an idea that could help thousands of families.