Vending

Virginia elementary school memorializes teacher, community member with book vending machine

Photo: Adobe Stock

May 20, 2024

Ruby F. Carver Elementary School in Henrico, Virginia has memorialized Beverly Parsley, who taught at the school for 38 years and died last year, with a book vending machine, according to a Henrico Citizen report.

"Beverly was an extraordinary teacher," Patricia Gregory, Carver school teacher and Beverly's colleague, told the news outlet. "She had a passion for teaching reading and she loved sharing books with kids."

The vending machine also memorializes community member Jane O'Toole. "Walk4JaneO," one of the school's community partners, paid for the $7,000 vending machine.

The vending machine "celebrates the power of strong community partnerships, the love of students and the love of reading," Kristy Budny, Carver Elementary principal, told the news outlet.