Atmos Energy donates a book vending machine to Cockrell Hill Elementary
Posted on 11/07/2023
Atmos Energy Corporation, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the country’s largest natural gas-only distributor. While consistently working to power the needs of their customers, Atmos employees also work to fuel bright minds and healthy futures for kids. Atmos believes in making a difference in the lives of children by collaborating with local school districts and education foundations to offer nutritious meals and provide resources to help children read at grade level by third grade. Through Atmos’ Fueling Safe and Thriving Communities initiative, in partnership with the DeSoto ISD PTA, the Cockrell Hill Elementary (CHE) campus is a recent recipient of a book vending machine to encourage literacy in K-3 students. This project directly addresses the district’s board goal 2 to improve literacy outcomes.
With the vending machine now installed in the school’s library, and loaded with a variety of Atmos funded books, CHE students will have the opportunity to ‘purchase’ books from the vending machine using tokens that they earn at school. The purchased books become the property of the students to take home, read, and share with friends and family. “Research shows that to become a better reader, you have to practice reading,” explained CHE Principal Sissy Lowe. “So, we’re trying to build the basic foundation and a love of reading, and we are grateful to Atmos for their support.”
CHE Staff and volunteers are working on developing strategies for students to earn tokens and to continue to fund refills of replacement books as the inventory is reduced by purchases. And Eddie the Eagle continues to be on hand in the CHE library to encourage students to read.
Interested in helping? Email [email protected], subject line READING PROJECTS.