By: Dani Gallingane

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At the Jacksonville Humane Society, volunteers can help animals become ready for adoption in many different ways. One program proves that sometimes; all it takes is opening a book. 

JHS offers what they have come to call the Pawsitive Reading Program where community members of all ages can come in and read to dogs and cats. While the program is especially popular with children, anyone who has an interest can participate. Readers sit with the dogs and read aloud, giving the animals an opportunity to become comfortable around people in a calm, relaxed, and controlled environment. 

For animals living in shelters, getting used to new people and different surroundings can be an important part of preparing for adoption. Reading provides a quiet way for them to socialize without the pressure of direct interaction with lots of new people. It is also proven to lower the stress the animals might be feeling during their stay in the shelter.  

JHS’s education assistant manager Bianca Bryne says,

“It helps them feel less stress here in the shelter and it ultimately helps them get adopted, it helps them to chill out, get used to people, and we learn whether they enjoy kids or not.” 

The program also benefits the people taking part in it. For children, reading to a dog or a cat can make reading feel less intimidating and more enjoyable. Instead of reading aloud in front of a classroom or being worried about making mistakes, children have a patient listener who won’t judge them. 

It also gives families and community members another meaningful way to spend time at the shelter while helping animals in need. At the same time, the program encourages people to pick up a book and practice a skill that can easily get pushed aside in a world filled with phones and screens. 

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, reading aloud gives children practice that can improve their accuracy, fluency, and expression, while helping them become more confident readers. 

By combining reading with animal socialization, the Pawsitive Reading Program creates a benefit for both sides. The animals get valuable human interaction and stress relief, while readers get a chance to practice reading, build confidence, and make a new four-legged friend. It is a simple activity, but one that can make a meaningful difference for animals waiting for their new homes. 

By: Georgia Witt

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Bicycles are a great way to get around. They make you feel more connected to your surroundings, allow you to enjoy the weather on a beautiful day, and are a solid form of exercise. For many people, riding a bike is mainly a hobby reserved for the occasional Saturday. But for some, bikes can be life changing.   

Garfield “Garf” Cooper is the owner of ZenCog Bicycle Company, a Riverside bike shop that was founded in 2010. Shortly after opening ZenCog, Cooper started The Honey Pot Bike Collective (HPBC), a non-profit organization that operates in tandem with the bike shop.  

The HPBC is a non-profit recycling company with a bicycle focus. Old bikes are either donated to or picked up by Cooper and his volunteer crew, repaired in-house, and redistributed to the community. A majority of the bikes are donated to community members in need of free transportation, but some are bought as a form of donation to the organization’s funds.  

Prior to opening ZenCog and the HPBC, Cooper experienced firsthand the life-changing power of bicycles. At 28 years old his hip collapsed, leading to a four-year period of painkillers, wheelchairs, crutches, and a cycle of surgeries and recoveries. One day, fed up with the pain, Cooper told his son that they were going to try to go for a bike ride.  

“And so, he goes out, and he gets my bike that’s been sitting for four or five years in a shed, pumps up the tires, and we went for a bike ride,” Cooper said.

“And in that moment, everything changed. Everything in the world. I was mobile.” 

The mission of the HPBC is to provide that mobility and sense of freedom to anyone in need of it. For Cooper, the joy of his work is not only found in providing bikes to the community, but also in creating a welcoming space for volunteers. 

During open hours, the HPBC doors are wide open to anyone who wants to drop in and learn how to repair bikes. For volunteers, the down-to-earth atmosphere of the HPBC has provided them with a sense of community. The work itself has also given them the pleasure of gaining new skills. 

“That’s what we do here,” Cooper said. “We try to get somebody who’s maybe never even touched a wrench, or maybe they’re coming from a different field, but get them to fix a bike and ride it down the street. When that happens, it’s marvelous.” 

By: Claire Jones

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For three friends in Jacksonville Beach, finding a community in their twenties was hard, so they decided to build their own.  

Morgan, Lindsey and Chloe have been best friends for years, but they still left like something was missing. They dreamed of having a strong community in Jacksonville that they could rely on. For a while, they searched for it but ultimately kept falling short.  

One night, as they were driving home from a Worship Night, the conversation landed once again on the idea of finding their people. That’s when it hits them. If they couldn’t find the community they were looking for, why not create it themselves? 

That’s when Rolling with Jesus was born, a faith-based run club on wheels that encourages Jacksonville Beach locals to stay active while meeting new people. The girls hosted their first event in June 2025 with a small group of friends. Word spread quickly, and with each gathering, the crowd grew.  

Now, more than a year later, Rolling with Jesus has become an established club, creating a space for young adults to stay active, build friendships and connect through faith.  

The group meets once a month at different locations around the beaches, with spaces generously offered by local churches and other businesses.  

During each gathering, the group starts out with a few minutes to catch up with friends before rolling out for about a 15-minute ride. Some roll-on bikes, while others lace up their roller skates. Any set of wheels is welcome.  

After the ride, everyone meets back up for free ice cream from Milly’s, a local homemade ice cream shop and Rolling with Jesus partner.  

As the sun sets, the group gathers on the green, to listen to a short sermon from a volunteer preacher.  

In the past few months, Rolling with Jesus has helped many find friendships. For some, it has become a way to escape life troubles, giving riders a chance to set their worries aside and surround themselves with a support system that helps them make it through the week. 

For Rolling with Jesus, the goal isn’t simply to keep people moving, it’s to remind them they don’t have to move through life alone.