Does your Church have a Soft Drink Vending Machine?

[Ben W]

Vending Machine Poll

 

[Gib]

We have a coke machine in our church. We service and refill ourselves. Warning! You may get a Sam's cola instead of Coca-cola. But you know, it's cold. We charge .25 cent a drink.

 

[Debby in Philly]

Good Grief!
First step down a slippery slope to having a food court. We're not a mall or a gym, or even a community center. We're a CHURCH! If we eat and drink in the church building, it's a family sharing a meal, not a commercial enterprise.

 

[mcdirector]

We have snack machines too. Some of us spend quite a bit of time here. We've got them in several locations.

 

[Thankful]

I think our custodians would veto a cold drink machine because of the potential "mess". We are small and drinks except coffee and water are discouraged. No drinks in the sanctuary!

Personally, I don't see a problem with it, but I can see that it could create problems.

Coffee and water are free.

There is a convenience store nearby so people can get drinks or snacks there.

 

[Gib]

If we eat and drink in the church building, it's a family sharing a meal, not a commercial enterprise.

What can I say, we're a cash cow.

 

[WallyGator]

I agree with you, Thankful. We have a convienence store right across the street.

 

[TexasSky]

My current church doesn't. My old church did.
Doesn't really matter to me one way or the other.
If the church is close to a place to buy soft drinks, or if the church isn't used very often, you might not want them. On the other hand, if the church is being used almost 24/7, people may want something cold to drink, and a coke machine is convienent and cheap. You don't have to "make a profit" off it.

 

[Artimaeus]

We don't have one. Mainly because we have never seen a real need for one but I don't think it would be a bad idea. We have a refrigerator that we keep some 2 liter bottles in but they go flat and a lot is wasted. I think dispensing them at cost would save a lot on the expense of purchasing them and still allow people to quinch their thirst.

 

[Jimmy C]

the money from ours goes to the youth program

 

[Pathwalker]

In our Church No, But our Pastor lives behind the Church and we go after Church for fellowship.

 

[Marcia]

Ben W, there's a glitch in the poll. I couldn't vote because my church does have a soft drink machine, so I couldn't answer the 2nd question. You needed another option there for 'not applicable' for those whose church does have a machine.

Our church is opened pretty much all the time and having the soft drink machine there works out well though I hardly ever use it. The teens use it a lot.

 

[gb93433]

Anytime you have a drink machine you also have parents who allow their kids to sip on drinks and bring them to class while others who do not have drinks or no money to buy them go without. It is a real problem with kids around.

 

[Ben W]

Marcia, I suppose one way of looking at question two assuming that you have a soft drink machine is to answer in the vein of whether you want it or not?

 

[Brother Ian]

It would be nice to have one at times. We do have coffee before Sunday School.

 

[bruren777]

We do not have a vending machine. We have two refrigerators, one has soda in cans and two liter bottles. One of our members works at Costco he supplies the sodas. We also have ice cream in the frig, it's intended for the youth, but others help themselves to it. No one makes a big deal over it.

We have no need for a vending machine.

 

[Marcia]

Originally posted by Ben W:
Marcia, I suppose one way of looking at question two assuming that you have a soft drink machine is to answer in the vein of whether you want it or not?

You're right!

I actually thought of that right after I posted my response. So I'll vote yes to both. If it wasn't there, the teens would be walking up the street to the 7-11 and then maybe get back to church late for things or end up doing other stuff.