MAYOR DEEGAN'S RIVER CITY READERS BRINGS BOOKS, KIDS AND PETS TOGETHER AT ACPS FOR READING EVENT
Fort Caroline Elementary second graders read to shelter pets as citywide literacy initiative tops 3 million minutes
Mayor Donna Deegan joined dozens of second graders from Fort Caroline Elementary School at Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS) on Wednesday, September 23, for a special River City Readers event where students read aloud to shelter pets and visited the mayor’s Bookmobile.
Reading to animals in shelters has been shown to calm anxious pets, lower their stress levels, and help them become more adoptable. The event gave students a chance to practice their reading skills while helping animals at ACPS on their way to finding permanent homes.
Mayor Deegan also read to the children and welcomed them aboard the River City Readers Bookmobile, where each student picked out a free book to take home.
“This event brings two of our valued city departments — ACPS and our Public Library — together in a fun way that benefits both kids and animals,” said Mayor Deegan. “It’s great to see the excitement on the children’s faces when they interact with the pets, and it’s also great for the pets to interact with the kids. We’re always looking for ways to make reading fun for students, and this is a creative opportunity to do just that.”
Since River City Readers launched in 2023, children across Jacksonville have collectively read more than 3 million minutes as part of the citywide literacy initiative. To learn more about River City Readers, visit Jacksonville.gov/RiverCityReaders.
Families interested in adopting a pet can visit ACPS at 2020 Forest St., Jacksonville, FL 32204, or learn more at Jacksonville.gov/ACPS.