Crouse CLC's New Book Vending Machine

(The picture above is kindergarten teacher Michelle Mellor with fifth-grader Javon Freeman.)

As Crouse CLC Ambassadors greeted parents, grandparents, students and guests entering the school, the crowd gathered around the new book vending machine.

About 30 people recently attended the school’s ribbon-cutting ceremony to witness the newest entertainment addition. It has a name -- Inchy, the bookworm vending machine.

Wrapped with a bright yellow ribbon and with a neon sign next to it that reads ‘Cool kids like to read,’ the setting is also equipped with a rocking chair for an ideal reading corner. 

The Bookworm Vending Machine was donated to the school through a grant from the GAR Foundation. Kindergarten teacher Michelle Mellor wrote the grant to make it possible. The GAR Foundation gave the school $10,000 for the vending machine. The grant also provided more than 500 books.

“APS has a list of preferred reading books for the students. The books are culturally diverse,” Mellor said. “I selected books with characters who look like the students.”

She said the generous grant will allow the school to buy additional books in the future.

Christ the Child Society also donated books, and several of its members tutor at the school. Besides books, the society also donates clothing to APS schools.

“Our motto is: Nothing is too much to do for a child,” said Patty Minrovic, president of Christ the Child and a former principal (Aurora school district). She described the vending machine as a tool that “gives out food of knowledge and adventure.”

Patty McCluskey, one of the members of the society who tutors at Crouse, taught special education at the school for 24 years before retiring during the COVID pandemic. She said that, altogether, six Christ the Child members and two husbands also provide tutoring. 

Crouse principal Tara Bruce-Bentley, thanked McCluskey for her continuing support and recognized everyone who made literacy through vending possible. She added that the vending machine is a great resource to the students. She also gave special recognition to Crouse graduate Isaiah Young, who is now a special assistant to Akron Mayor Shammas Malik, saying she was proud to see a Crouse school graduate doing well.

“This is extremely exciting for me,” said Young. “I attended Crouse from first grade through sixth and am grateful for my time at Crouse. Reading and literacy are really important. There is a lot of power in reading.”

Crouse Ambassador Javon Freeman, a fifth-grader at the school, bravely went to the podium, not appearing to be nervous at all. He told the crowd that he loved to read and couldn’t wait to use the vending machine.

“Reading is like dreaming, but you’re still awake. Each book is different and takes you on a different adventure,” he said, although he admitted he was a bit nervous when he went up to address the group.

He was the first to use a gold token to select a book. The other four ambassadors followed: Amina Gulley, Josh Slovensky-Bagley, Aleyssa Rios Zambrano and London Oliphant. 

After the token is placed in the machine and a book is selected, the machine tells you, “One book coming up.” Students can earn tokens by good attendance, coming to school on time, good behavior and doing various tasks at the school. 

“By offering the students so many opportunities, everyone has a chance to get a book,” said Mellor.

Group photo of first books dispensed from book vending machine

Isaiah Young, special assistant to Akron Mayor Malik

Crouse Ambassadors greet parents and students