Starting this year, students will now have more options on what to eat during their lunch time. Two vending machines were put into the cafeteria this year by the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Company and Arizona Tea company.

The ice cream vending machine offers chocolate fudge bars and ice cream sandwiches. The Arizona Tea offers flavors from green tea to iced tea.

Vending machines have been proven valuable with students. Sophomore Zoie Gustafson said, “I love the vending machines, they have a huge variety of snacks and help make Perry a better school.” The previous vending machine contract expired and other companies attempted to sell their own contracts to the district.

“Every so often, the school goes to a bid, where vending machine companies give us a presentation on why we should give them a contract,” principal Dan Serrano said. The school district is in charge of choosing the vendors who can sell their product to students. The district has an approved list on products we can use.

Serrano also said, “But other school products, like T-shirt vendors and graduation products, have to be on a district approval list for us to be able to use them. You cannot go out and say ‘I want to buy this shirt,’ it has to be on the approval list.”

The school has gained profit from the vending machines. Last year, the school made $4,320.25 on the snack machine in the cafeteria, but the addition of two vending machines will increase the earnings from last year. Administration receives a check every month from the companies. The amount can vary month to month but, the average monthly amount is about $400. Serrano said, “We get to keep the profit from the vending machines.”

Vending machines fundraise for the school so they can use that money to improve the school. Debbie Brown said, “The school uses the money to buy supplies and stuff like that. But, ultimately the money is spent to benefit the kids.”

Next time you put your coins in the vending machines think about your contribution to the school.