Kind Kids: Winter 2026
Welcome to our seasonal blog series, “Kind Kids,” where we celebrate the inspiring young individuals in our community who are making a difference for pets in need and spreading kindness. Each post will spotlight a young advocate who has shown exceptional compassion and generosity towards the Jacksonville Humane Society and pets in need.
Miss Florida Elementary 2026, Addison Coburn, and the donations she collected for the pets at JHS
This season we highlight Addison Coburn, Miss Florida Elementary 2026, whose dedication to serving pets in need spans her lifetime. “Ever since I was a baby, I have been around animal rescue. My mom would have me in the car seat and we would go from the shelter in Orlando to a rescue and transport dogs in need all day. I have grown up around it!” Addison explained.
Addison created a donation drive in the Jacksonville community to help support the animals and the Jacksonville Humane Society’s mission. Through her compassion and care she gathered enough supplies to fill two carts! Addie’s history of supporting pets in need began before she could talk, with her mother encouraging her to choose kindness every step of the way. “My mom flew to Texas to rescue a Shih Tzu that was paralyzed. Her name was Nola Belle and she was my best friend! We have been rescuing special senior and special needs Shih Tzus ever since I was a baby.”
Addie spending time reading to some dog friends in the JHS small dog area
While only being involved with JHS for a short time, Addie’s participation has made such an impact on the animals. In September 2025, Addison joined the Pawsitive Reading program at JHS to read out loud for the cats and dogs to lower their stress levels. Studies show that reading helps the pets feel more relaxed, which is ideal in helping them feel more comfortable in the shelter and increasing their chances of getting adopted. Addison then participated in the JHS Howl-O-Ween Camp in October, creating frozen autumn treats and Halloween themed bandanas for our dogs at JHS. Addie also participated in the JHS Deck the Howls event in December, where families were invited to come read to animals, make holiday themed toys and treats, wear cozy pajamas, and play Animal Trivia. “Dogs are my best friends! When we moved to Jacksonville, we immediately knew we wanted to visit the JHS and give back however we can! We love their mission and what they stand for.”
Addie with Ms. Imani, the Humane Educator at the JHS Deck the Howls event
When recalling how she initially planned the donation drive, Addie thought of the pets at JHS and how to give them a memorable holiday. “Everyone deserves to have a good Christmas and that includes our furry friends!” Addie explained. “It was my mission to have a donation drive around the holidays so that I could donate everything right before Christmas.” From there, Addie initiated a plan to promote her supply drive to the rest of Jacksonville. “I had a friend help me create fliers, I put a big donation box inside my cheer gym, and my mom helped me with an Amazon wish list. We have lots of animal rescue friends all over the country that wanted to help donate!! So we posted on Facebook for those to see.” Through her generosity, Addie was able to gather donations of towels and blankets, peanut butter, wet and dry food, kitten formula, and treats.
Addie’s donation drive received so much positive feedback from the community, she created another drive to continue her support for the cats, dogs, and people at JHS. “I worked hard for about two months on gathering donations. Even after my deadline, I’ve had neighbors contact me about donations so I am starting another drive! I have a few bags of blankets right now that were dropped off from neighbors.”
For Addie, kindness is all about taking the time to care for others. “Kindness equals caring. Kindness is choosing to help animals in need and treating them all with care. Kindness is using my voice to help animals who aren’t able to speak for themselves.” Addie believes kindness is fundamentally rooted in using your voice to empower and uplift others.
Addie delivering the donations Ms. Savanna, the Assistant Director of Development and Education
Addie hopes to continue to inspire her peers and everyone in the community to take charge of helping pets in need. Her advice to kids like her exploring ways to get involved? “There is SO much that can be done!! Visit your local humane society, share on social media about animals that need homes (have your parents help), participate in my favorite activity which is Pawsitive Reading, even items laying around your house could be donations! Any day is the perfect day to make a difference!!” Addie’s actions amplify the words of the JHS motto – generosity breeds joy – as her love for animals speaks to how we can use our voice to make a difference in the world no matter who we are.
Addie supporting the JHS Pet Adoption Festival at the Prime Osborn Convention Center
We are so grateful for Addie’s generosity and commitment to supporting pets in need within our community. Her work with the Jacksonville Humane Society demonstrates how we can inspire others by using our voice to affect change. Addie’s act of kindness displays how compassion and empathy can help us construct pathways for positive change in the world.
Learn more about how you can get involved:
Do you know a young animal advocate who you think should be featured in this series? We’d love to hear about them: