Do you want to help get the word out about the importance of going veg but don’t have much free time to volunteer? I know how you feel. I used to leaflet at outreach events for Compassionate Action for Animals but became busy with other activities. I didn’t have as much time to volunteer but still wanted to help in some way.

Then, while walking near downtown one sunny day, I encountered a news stand stocked with Vegetarian Starter Guides and was curious to know who stocked it. I asked around and discovered that CAA volunteers distributed these guides throughout the city. Aha! Here was something I could easily jump into doing.

Dropping off literature at coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, grocery stores, and other locations can be a convenient way to volunteer. Most us pass by these places during our daily commutes. When we take a moment to leave some outreach literature at these locations, we make it possible for others to learn about the benefits of a vegetarian diet.

Research has shown that most people care about the well-being of farm animals. Seeing a Vegetarian Starter Guide is a visible reminder of farm animal issues and only reinforces these shared values. Additionally, research has shown that 12 million people in the United States are very interested in moving towards a vegetarian diet. Vegetarian Starter Guides equip people with the basic information needed to go veg confidently and effectively.

I’ve been dropping off this kind of literature at co-ops, news stands, and coffee shops for several years now. Often, the pamphlets disappear in a few weeks before I revisit the location. Someone once even contacted CAA office requesting that more guides be dropped off since they had run out. This person had wanted to share the Vegetarian Starter Guides with friends. Clearly, our community wants this information.

Feeling strongly about this outreach method, I’ve been recruiting others to be a part of it. If you are passionate about creating a more veg-friendly community right here in Minnesota, you can join our Lit Distribution Team. Email me at kevin.chavis@exploreveg.org, and I’ll give you the lowdown on how to get started. Together, we can take compassionate action for animals!