By Ashby Richardson
Drummonds Elementary School is celebrating a big win for literacy with the arrival of a brand-new book vending machine — a fun and exciting way to reward students for their reading efforts.
The vending machine, which functions like a traditional snack machine but dispenses books instead of candy, is open to all DES students in grades Pre-K through 5. Students can earn a “golden ticket,” which can be exchanged for a token to choose a book of their preference from the machine.
The school’s librarian, Stacey Adkison, helped to bring the idea to life for her students. While the machine was awarded to the school through a literacy-based contest through Reading for Education, the project was not fully funded. Adkison spent approximately $1,200 to stock the machine with a variety of books that fit into its adjustable shelving system.
The vending machine complements the school’s continued use of the Accelerated Reader (AR) program, which encourages reading through a points system. Students earn AR points by reading books and completing quizzes that assess their comprehension. Those points can be redeemed at the library’s “AR store” to get fun prizes.
The initiative fundraiser for the vending machine was made possible through Reading for Education, an organization that provides easy online fundraising programs for American schools. With more than 60% of elementary schools nationwide (over 45,000 schools and 15 million families) having participated in their programs, the company has become a significant influence in school fundraising. According to their website, their mission is to provide schools with essential funding while delivering outstanding service and value.<–needs source
Reading for Education’s fundraising model is simple and fully online. Students sign up and share a link to a family book store, where relatives and supporters can purchase items. Schools receive 40% of every sale, and donors also have the option to contribute directly. Every participating student receives a mystery “Book Buddy” (a small, plush toy) as a thank-you for supporting their school.
Schools with strong participation and support in this program become eligible for exciting rewards, including the highly sought-after book vending machines. Atoka Elementary earned one in March 2024, and now Drummonds Elementary has proudly added one to its halls.
“Our community supports us through our fundraisers, and I appreciate it so much,” Adkison said, grateful for the strong local backing that continues to help the school thrive.
For families and community members who want to help, the Drummonds Elementary library also accepts book donations year-round. For more information on the fundraising program, visit readingforeducation.com.
With the addition of the vending machine, DES continues to encourage a love for reading in creative and rewarding ways, proving once again that literacy can be both educational and fun.
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