When one thinks of a vending machine, candy, chips and soda may come to mind. While not incorrect, students at Crestwood Elementary School are finding out that vending machines can hold much more than just snacks.
At the beginning of the school year, the Crestwood Elementary School PTO supplied a book vending machine for the school’s library, giving students the chance to choose books, also supplied by the PTO, for positive office referrals, birthdays and perfect attendance incentives.
“Over the last few years, we’ve been lucky enough to really have a windfall of funds due to the great support structure between the families of students and local businesses being able to donate a lot,” PTO president Rick Kruzel said. “It was getting to the point where we need(ed) to start giving back more than what we normally do, because we had enough funds to make some bigger purchases. We wanted to give something that the school can use for many, many years – a nice extra incentive for the students.”
Before deciding on the vending machine, the PTO threw around a few ideas, including providing a shaded area for the school’s new playground that will soon be built, though ultimately decided that choice.
“(That) is years down the line. What can we do today to help the students this year? To at least let the parents and people in the community who have been supporting the PTO financially for many years through time and effort, show them something physical that we are doing that they can see as a representation of all of the hard work and help that they’ve provided,” Kruzel said.
The total project cost was approximately $10,000, which included the machine itself, the books, shipping – which was “very expensive” – the custom Lindbergh wrapping and the tokens used as opposed to coins.
On top of that, the PTO has pledged $1,000 annually to keep the machine stocked, ensuring “every student’s getting at least one, two books a year through the vending machine.”
While the PTO is funding the project, Crestwood Elementary librarian Beth Mazdra is in charge of choosing the books that fill the machine. As it holds about 250 books at any given time, this is no small task.
“I’ve been making sure that we have a diverse collection in there, something in there for everybody, Kindergarten through fifth grade,” Mazdra said. “The library, the school is all about getting kids excited about reading, right? And that’s what it’s done, it has really sparked some excitement. Kids are really interested. They’re coming down, checking it out. They’re loving the books that are in there.”
So far, about 50 students and counting have used the book vending machine since it arrived in August.
“It’s all PTO,” Mazdra said. “They are a great PTO. I mean, I’ve been at a few schools, and this is one of the best. We’re pretty lucky.”