NASCAR driver shares stories and a surprise with Rymfire students

Rymfire Elementary students lit up with excitement this week when NASCAR driver Erik Jones walked into their cafeteria. After reading Goodnight Racetrack by fellow driver Josef Newgarden, Jones revealed a surprise waiting just for them: a “Bookworm” vending machine filled with brand-new books.

This is the fifth machine, donated through a partnership between the Erik Jones Foundation, AdventHealth and Flagler Schools, the first of its kind in Flagler County. The other machines have already been placed in Volusia County schools, where they have inspired more reading and made classrooms more engaging.

“Reading is such a crucial skill, and I want kids to see it as something exciting, like crossing the finish line after a big race,” Jones told the students. “These vending machines make books feel like a prize, and that kind of motivation can change lives.”

The vending machines are simple but powerful. Students earn tokens for positive behaviors, such as good attendance, which they can trade for books to take home. Each token is more than a reward, it is a chance to spark curiosity, build confidence and create a moment of pride that makes children eager to return to school.

For AdventHealth, the program reflects a belief that good health begins long before a doctor’s visit. Leaders see reading as a cornerstone of a child’s well-being, just as important as healthy meals or time on the playground. Research shows that children who read proficiently are more likely to succeed in school, graduate and live healthier lives.

“Health is more than what happens in the hospital, it begins with opportunities like this,” said Yuri Pashchuk, associate chief nursing officer at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway. “When a child discovers a book that excites them, it strengthens their confidence, their imagination and their future. That is an investment that benefits every family in our community.”

Flagler County’s most recent Community Health Needs Assessment highlighted education access and early childhood development as priorities tied to long-term health. Bringing book vending machines into schools is one way AdventHealth is responding with practical solutions children can feel right now.

The new machine at Rymfire is already serving its purpose, giving students a reason to come to school and putting books directly into their hands. For families, it is one more way the community is working together to give children the tools they need to grow, learn and thrive.