Service Days & Projects

Service Days

Service Day Snuffle MatsJHS regularly holds Middle and High School Service Days for students in need of volunteer hours (or who are simply passionate about helping pets!).

During our service days, participants complete a variety of service projects benefiting JHS while learning about animal sheltering, what dogs and cats go through while living in a shelter environment, and how we can help make their experiences as happy, healthy, and stress-free as possible.

All participants are awarded 4 community service hours at the end of each service day, and a pizza lunch is provided. A $35 donation is required to register. This donation helps cover the cost of project supplies.

Upcoming Middle School Service Days:

Saturday, November 22, 2025 – 11am-3pm

Theme: Pet Promotion

Middle school students in grades 6-8 are invited to join us on Saturday, November 22, 2025, for a day of learning and service at the Jacksonville Humane Society!

Participants will learn about how the adoption process works at JHS as well as strategies and tools we use to digitally and in person to help the pets in the shelter find homes. We’ll complete a variety of projects designed to help promote our pets for adoption both online and in the shelter, with a special focus on our long stay pets.

Service projects may include:

– creating adoption posters to promote our pets in the shelter
– decorating bandanas to hang on the pets kennels
– making portraits of our long stay pets

We may even meet a new furry friend or two!

All participants will be awarded 4 community service hours at the end of the day. A pizza lunch is included.

Register now – space is limited

1 spot available as of 10/6/25

Upcoming High School Service Days:

Saturday, December 6, 2025 – 11am-3pm

Theme: The Five Freedoms

High school students in grades 9-12 are invited to join us on Saturday, December 6, 2025, for a day of learning and service at the Jacksonville Humane Society!

Participants will learn about animal sheltering, the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, and how we implement them to make sure the pets of JHS stay happy and healthy during their stay before they’re adopted.

Service projects may include:

– creating enrichment items for the pets such as dog treats, food puzzles, cat toys, and more
– making kitten e-collars for after surgery
– making heating pads for neonatal kittens and surgery patients
– reading to the pets to help them feel more relaxed in their kennels

We may even meet a new furry friend or two!

All participants will be awarded 4 community service hours at the end of the day. A pizza lunch is included.

Register now – space is limited!

Service Project Ideas

Kids and youth groups often ask about service projects they can do to help JHS. Organizing a donation drive is a paw-fect way to lend a hand and do something kind for pets in need.

What do we need?

  • Dog food (dry food and wet food)
  • Cat food (dry food and wet food)
  • Kitten food (dry and wet food)
  • Tough rubber toys for bigger dogs
  • Paper towels
  • Dog treats (the dogs at JHS love Pup-Peroni, small training treats, and soft treats that can be broken into small pieces)
  • New leashes (standard, non-retractable)
  • Cat treats and catnip
  • Plastic cat toys
  • New pipe cleaners (non-used – these make great toys for cats in isolation undergoing medical treatment)
  • Towels and blankets with NO stuffing (used is fine)
  • Large paper grocery bags (can be used but MUST be completely clean and free of holes – we use these for cat hiding spaces!)

Donations may be brought to our facility 7 days a week during business hours. Any of our offices can take donations. We are located at 8464 Beach Blvd.

Other Service Project Ideas:

Want to do something other than a donation drive? Please download our Youth Service Projects Guide and check out some projects that youth can complete and then donate to the Jacksonville Humane Society.

For more information, contact the Education Department:

Email: [email protected] • Phone: 904.493.4588

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