- April 24, 2026
Beachside Elementary students celebrate the unveiling of the new book vending machine. Courtesy photo
Volusia County School Board member Krista Goodrich. Courtesy photo
Dillon Kalkhurst, Beachside Elementary School Advisory Council member. Courtesy photo
A.J. Castro, director of Enabling & Outreach at Family Health Source. Courtesy photo
Jayme Dickey, Daytona Beach Kiwanis Club president. Courtesy photo
Beachside Elementary Principal Leigh Prokop celebrates the unveiling of the new book vending machine alongside students, the Daytona Kiwanis Club and Family Health Source. Courtesy photo
A student holds a book during the unveiling of the new book vending machine. Courtesy photo
A student holds a book during the unveiling of the new book vending machine. Courtesy photo
A student smiles during the unveiling of the new book vending machine. Courtesy photo
Beachside Elementary students celebrate the unveiling of the new book vending machine. Courtesy photo
Beachside Elementary students celebrate the unveiling of the new book vending machine alongside A.J. Castro, director of Enabling & Outreach at Family Health Source; Kathy Lee, a member of the Daytona Beach Kiwanis board and Jayme Dickey, Daytona Beach Kiwanis president. Courtesy photo
Beachside Elementary celebrates the unveiling of the new book vending machine. Courtesy photo
Dillon Kalkhurst, Beachside Elementary School Advisory Council member, his son Jordan Kalkhurst, ESE support facilitator, and students. Courtesy photo
The new book vending machine. Courtesy photo
Put in a token, get a book.
Beachside Elementary unveiled a new kind of vending machine on Wednesday, April 22. The book vending machine was made possible thanks to an initiative by the Kiwanis Club of Daytona Beach and Family Health Source, and a $5,000 donation from Daytona Beach City Commissioner Ken Strickland.
"Literacy is a critical component of lifelong wellness, and we are honored to partner in fostering a love of reading and empowering students with the tools they need to succeed," said A.J. Castro, director of Enabling and Outreach at Family Health Source.
Students can earn tokens at the school as rewards for positive behavior and academic achievement, and use them at the vending machine for a book they can take home and keep.
"We are so grateful for the generous donation of books for our vending machine," Principal Leigh Prokop said in a press release. "Giving students the opportunity to earn and choose their own books makes reading exciting and meaningful, and it is a powerful way to celebrate their hard work and positive choices. This will help us continue building a strong culture of literacy while also putting high-interest books directly into our students' hands. It is more than just a reward; it is creating moments that inspire confidence, motivation, and a genuine love for reading."
Kathy Lee, a member of the Daytona Beach Kiwanis board, said they are proud to support Beachside through this new initiative.
"By providing books for the vending machine, we're helping place engaging, high-quality reading materials directly into students' hands while reinforcing positive behavior, building confidence, and inspiring a lifelong love of reading," she said.
Beachside, an A-rated school, has the third-highest number of students experiencing homelessness in the district, the press release states, and about 75% of Beachside's students are considered economically disadvantaged.
"As a teacher working with students who often face unique learning challenges, I'm always looking for ways to build confidence and excitement around reading," said Jordan Kalkhurst, ESE support facilitator and a Volusia County Schools Teacher of the Year finalist. "This program provides a meaningful incentive for students to stay engaged and take pride in their progress while giving them books they can truly call their own."
