FOOD delivery riders can now enjoy free drinks and snacks from a vending machine at a condominium in Johor Baru.
Poonam Singh, president of Glocal Helping Hands, a non-governmental organisation, has been working with the management of a condominium to get the vending machine.
“The idea has been at the back of my mind for the past two years, but I did not know how to go about it,” she said, adding that a friend helped to source for the machine.
“The vending machine company also agreed to sponsor the machine as well as the food and drinks in it for free.
“Within a month, we were able to get everything in place, including getting approval from the management of the condominium where the vending machine will be placed,” she told StarMetro.
Poonam (left) and Yap standing by the vending machine that provides free drinks and snacks for food delivery riders at the condominium in Johor Baru.
Poonam said the vending machine, which could hold up to 800 items at a time, has been placed at the lobby of the Grandview 360 condominium in Jalan Bayu Puteri 2 since the middle of May.
“Food riders have been going around sending food to their customers with little or no time in between to rest.
“Some may not even have extra money to spare for a quick snack or drink to replenish their energy.
“With this vending machine in place, we hope they can get the rest they deserve in between deliveries without having to spend any money,” she said.
Poonam added that the NGO also hoped to put up more such vending machines in other parts of Johor Baru if the initiative proved to be a success.
“Since this is a pilot project, we will need to see first how things go before planning to put up more machines.
“We will observe the situation for at least four months before expanding.”
Food delivery riders, she added, would only need to press the buttons on the vending machine without having to insert any money.
Condominium building manager Jennifer Yap said the vending machine was placed at the entrance of the Block A lobby in front of a guard house so that it would be under their watchful eyes.
“The riders only need to tell the security officers that they were there for the free drinks to be allowed in. The security officers are also able to identify them from the motorcycle they use, which has the logo of the delivery companies they work for.
“Closed-circuit televisions around the area could also ensure the vending machine is not misused by others,” added Yap.
