Submitted by The Dallas Education Foundation
L.L. Hotchkiss Elementary School is the latest recipient of a book vending machine thanks to Whataburger through their Feeding Student Success program.
The Hotchkiss Hawkettes cheerleaders demonstrated excitement for their library’s new addition by cheering on visitors and kicking off the ribbon-cutting ceremony with a high-intensity performance.
Although the book vending machine’s lights and design are bright and eye-catching, the real treasure is what’s inside – books curated specifically for the Hawks by the Early Learning and Library & Media Services departments. When the ribbon was finally cut, students crowded around the machine to see their book choices.
“Research shows getting books in the hands and homes of our students is the single greatest indicator of their future academic success, more so than parents’ income or education,” said Associate Superintendent Region III, Ryan Zysk. Maria Puentemejia, principal of Hotchkiss Elementary, followed Zysk’s sentiment, stating, “One of our goals is to ensure every student has the ability to enjoy reading at home, and this is going to create that opportunity.”
Whataburger representative Travis Hill says the best thing about his job is getting to give back to the communities the company serves, “At Whataburger, we’re dedicated to addressing challenges like food insecurity and educational barriers. Our partnership with the Dallas Education Foundation at Hotchkiss Elementary School is a reflection of this commitment, and we’re proud to be a part of this initiative.”
Through the Dallas Education Foundation’s (DEF) book vending machine program, over 20 Dallas ISD campuses have their own machine with a curated book selection. “Our long-term goal is to have a book vending machine at every elementary school. We are grateful to Whataburger’s commitment to investing in our students and helping us take steps to get there,” Mita Havlick, Dallas Education Foundation director, said.
Support the Dallas Education Foundation’s goal of housing a book vending machine on every campus by donating at dallasedfound.org. Follow DEF on social media by searching @dallasedfound on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
