Wood County Announces the Launch of Public Health Vending Machines to Enhance Community Well-being
Posted
10/2/2024
by
kegge@co.wood.wi.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2024
CONTACT: Sue Smith, Director and Health Officer
Phone number: 715-421-8911 Email: sue.smith@woodcountywi.gov
Wood County Announces the Launch of Public Health Vending Machines to Enhance Community Well-being
October 2, 2024 – Wisconsin Rapids, WI – As part of its commitment to enhancing community health and accessibility through innovative solutions, Wood County announces the launch of its first public health vending machines which provide free, high-quality health and safety supplies to anyone in need.
To ensure that health resources are within reach for everyone, regardless of their situation, the six vending machines have been strategically placed at key locations within Wood County communities that have been most impacted by overdoses and overdose deaths. Each vending machine offers important local resources and is stocked with a wide range of health-related items such as CPR kits, personal hygiene kits, Narcan, fentanyl and xylazine test kits, first aid kits, gunlocks, hand wipes, and sharps containers. The machines are now available at the following locations throughout Wood County:
Wisconsin Rapids
3620 8th Street South
- Mid-State Technical College
500 32nd Street North (door E-1)
- Wood County River Block
111 W Jackson Street (1st floor)
Marshfield
- Mid-State Technical College
2600 West 5th Street (door J)
- Family Health Center
630 S Central Ave (6th floor)
- St. Vincent de Paul
169 N Central Ave (pantry entrance)
“We are excited to introduce these public health vending machines to our community. This initiative reflects our commitment to improving public health in communities most impacted by overdoses and overdose deaths,” said Sue Smith, Wood County Health Department Director and Health Officer. “Having these machines in convenient locations removes barriers to accessing lifesaving resources and information.”
Lauramae Keuffer, Assistant Outreach Director with St. Vincent de Paul, shared, “It takes aligned efforts and all of us working together. St Vincent de Paul provides resources to people in our community who need help and appreciate this opportunity to be a host of one of these machines.”
For more information about the public health vending machines or other health initiatives, please visit the Wood County Health Department website or contact Sydney Resler at 715-421-8911 or sydney.resler@woodcountywi.gov.
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