NEW ORLEANS EAST HOSPITAL PARTNERS WITH THE CENTER FOR LITERACY & LEARNING TO LAUNCH INNOVATIVE BOOK VENDING MACHINE

NEW ORLEANS EAST HOSPITAL PARTNERS WITH THE CENTER FOR LITERACY & LEARNING TO LAUNCH INNOVATIVE BOOK VENDING MACHINE

NEW ORLEANS, LA – New Orleans East Hospital (NOEH) is proud to announce a new partnership with The Center for Literacy & Learning to install a Book Vending Machine in the hospital’s Emergency Department. This initiative is designed to promote literacy and address "book deserts" by offering children a free book of their own following their medical care.

“For a child, a hospital can be a frightening place. A book vending machine in our emergency room does more than just promote literacy – it offers comfort, distraction and a sense of normalcy in a moment of fear," said Dr. Takeisha C. Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer of NOEH. “New Orleans East Hospital is honored to be part of this solution-based intervention. A book in the hands of a child opens their mind to exploration and possibility. This initiative reflects our aspiration to help open doors to more possibilities for the families we serve.”

Hospital leadership and community partners gathered at the hospital today to cut a ribbon and officially unveil the machine. By placing this machine in the Emergency Department waiting room, a location many families rely on for accessible care, we are ensuring that moments of medical stress are paired with a positive experience that supports learning and imagination long after the visit ends. After receiving care, pediatric patients will be given a token to select a book to keep.

“We know that access to books and frequent reading at home play a pivotal role in a child’s academic success,” said Dr. John Wyble, Chief Executive Officer of The Center for Literacy & Learning. “This partnership allows us to place books directly in the hands of families when reading can offer support during critical moments and in the times that follow.”

While this marks the second installation of its kind in Louisiana, it is the first-ever to be located within a hospital setting and the first in New Orleans. This milestone highlights the growing collaboration between healthcare systems and community organizations to strengthen family outcomes through accessible literacy. Read more.

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About New Orleans East Hospital

New Orleans East Hospital (NOEH) is committed to providing extraordinary healthcare and educational empowerment to the community with courtesy, concern, kindness and compassion. We look forward to building a healthier community and serving as an active partner in the revitalization of Eastern New Orleans. NOEH is a proud member of LCMC Health, an 8-hospital system serving the healthcare needs of the Gulf Coast region. For more information on NOEH, visit www.NOEHospital.org.

About The Center for Literacy & Learning

The Center for Literacy & Learning has been a leader in Louisiana and nationally in literacy and early learning since 1992. In addition to supporting K-12 educators, The Center works directly with early learning and childcare centers, community partners, and families to engage in literacy and learning from a “wraparound” perspective to improve academic outcomes of all students, lasting a lifetime.

Founded in 1992, The Center works collaboratively with stakeholders across diverse disciplines to advance literacy and learning through evidence-based practices in the classroom, home, and community. The Center for Literacy & Learning takes pride in a team of credentialed and experienced professionals who provide programs such as Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning® national institute, Science of Reading Learning Academy: Growing Reading Brains™, Cornerstones CDA, Louisiana Reads!™, and various other programs targeting professional educators, families, community leaders, and the public at large. The Center has trained tens of thousands of educators from Louisiana and beyond in evidence-based teaching practices. Additionally, The Center for Literacy & Learning advocates for systemic public policy reforms that reflect research in literacy and learning. Our vision is that everyone is empowered through literacy. To learn more about The Center, visit https://mycll.org/.