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Volunteer and Donor Appreciation Party 2022
On June 11, 2022 we gathered for our annual Volunteer and Donor Appreciation Party. Yunuén and Sanchez Brown were once again our gracious and generous hosts! Their lovely yard and party room were a perfect setting. As is traditional, Sanchez grilled up his famous (and super yummy! )vegan chorizo tacos.
Over 30 volunteers and donors enjoyed the food and drink, got caught up with old friends and met new ones. There were also brief speakers who highlighted their reasons for volunteering and donating to Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA).
In addition to their generosity in hosting this event annually, Yunuén and Sanchez are Circle of Care members and major donors. We got to hear why they support CAA and the reason they love to host this event each year. Yunuén shared her path to veganism and how encountering CAA gave her a sense of community and support. They want to give back for what this community has meant to them and to help support its effective work on behalf of the animals.
CAA co-founder Dave Rolsky also spoke to these same themes and how they drive his continued support. Executive Director, Laura Matanah, thanked our hosts, the speakers and all who attended while giving highlights of some upcoming opportunities.
Volunteers and donors are essential to the work of CAA. This is one opportunity to help them see how much their support means to the organization and how it helps move forward our work on behalf of the animals.
If you participated in this event we would appreciate your feedback here.
CAA’s First Bags Tournament—a great source of FUNding!
Compassionate Action for Animals hosted its first bags/cornhole tournament on June 4. 2022. $1,222 was raised to help save the lives of farmed animals. And lots of fun occurred in the process!
This fundraising event exceeded expectations with the full 16 teams participating plus a dozen others signing up to cheer them on. Pups came to help cheer their people on too! All participants got a Sociable Cider Werks drink along with a CAA tee shirt. Food was available from all-vegan Francis Burger Joint.
While the fabulous drinks, food and socializing with like-minded folks were certainly highlights, focus remained on the competition. Four winners were announced:
Winning teams received a medal as well as a basket of swag that included gift cards to Sociable Cider Werks and Francis Burgers and a cupcake from Vegan East. And bragging rights, of course!
Ryan McGrath won the cash raffle. He won half the $120 we raised. He was also a member of the second place team Budz (His lucky day!).
Thank you to all who supported our work for animals by participating or volunteering. Your generosity helps increase the number of individuals and institutions choosing plant-based foods, strengthens food justice in our community, and spreads compassion for animals.
This event was coordinated by the Compassionate Action for Animals Board of Directors. In particular we would like to thank those that formed the planning committee: Board members: Alyssa Foggia, Nathan Gaut, Chris Homsey, Julie Knopp and Henry Patterson and development committee member Mitch Bermel.
If you participated in this event we would love your feedback here.
May 2022 Tour of SoulSpace Inspires Visitors
As part of Veg Month 2022, CAA sponsored a tour of SoulSpace Animal Sanctuary on Saturday, May 21.
SoulSpace is home to over 70 animals, including rescued sheep, hens, chicks, pigs, and goats. Each of them has a special story, and that story of struggle and survival reveals an inspiring, sentient individual. SoulSpace gives each animal the individual attention and freedom necessary not only to recover but also to thrive. The Sanctuary is located in New Richmond, Wisconsin.
Around a dozen people attended the tour. There was a short introduction to Compassionate Action for Animals and presentation about the sanctuary before the tour began. Visitors then had an opportunity to visit with the residents and get to know them personally.
Thanks to Amy Molina and Cathy Johnson for their lovely photos to capture this special event.
If you participated in this event we would appreciate your feedback here.
Meet Buffy—Farmaste Animal Sanctuary Resident
Buffy is a well loved resident of Farmaste Animal Sanctuary in Lindstrom. Farmaste rescues abused, neglected and unwanted farm animals and brings them to their 30-acre farm. There they are allowed to roam in the pastures, and live out their days free from cruelty.
Buffy is a 5 year old Nubian Cross Goat. Her most adorable traits are being mischievous and feisty. She is also a caretaker and consoled Eva the sheep the day she got temporarily separated from her herd.
Her best friends are fellow goats Kristen and Iggy. She most enjoys scratching her head on the brush, playing with herd members, and “bugging” Iggy.
Buffy came to Farmaste on April 25, 2019. She was found near a live market in St. Paul. A traumatic environment for farmed animals. Given her fighting spirit it is not surprising that she fought for her life and escaped.
We asked Farmaste for some information about Buffy and they shared the following:
Quick, easy, low calorie | May 2022 | Vegan Recipe Club
If you are curious about vegan cooking, this club is for you! Each month participants make three recipes from popular cookbooks then share their reflections with the group. Novice to expert cooks are welcome, as are interested non-cooks. Registration not required.
You may download the recipes using the link below or pick them up at East Lake Library, 2727 E. Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406. Printed recipe packets are available at the library’s Safe Pick-Up Station. Simply check in with the greeter and ask for the Vegan Recipe Club packet. If you would like contactless pick-up, please call the library during open hours and request curbside service.
The cookbook selection for May is Quick and Easy Low-Cal Vegan Comfort Food, 2012 by Alicia C. Simpson.
The publisher describes the book:
Basics of international comfort food | June 2022 | Vegan Recipe Club
This Zoom gathering is on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
If you are curious about vegan cooking, this club is for you! Each month participants make three recipes from popular cookbooks then share their reflections with the group. Novice to expert cooks are welcome, as are interested non-cooks. Registration not required.
This month’s selection is: Happy Herbivore Abroad, 2012 by Lindsay S. Nixon
The publisher describes the book:
Wholesome Minnesota presented to the Minnesota Public Health Association
Wholesome Minnesota (WM) Director, Jodi Gruhn presented at the Minnesota Public Health Association’s state conference in May 2022. The theme was, “Together, for Planet and Community.” This opportunity allowed her to highlight WM’s vision with an influential audience. The audience included representatives from state, county and city public health departments, the health plans, University of Minnesota and other colleges’ students, instructors and administrators, elected officials, and stakeholders from the fields of nutrition, economics, environmental health, to name a few.
Jodi’s talk focused on eating plant-based as an environmental justice strategy. She shared how diet choices impact the most vulnerable. Her point was that a shift toward a plant-rich diet can support environmental justice.
The Avian Influenza Epidemic and Chicken Run Rescue
Chicken Run Rescue is one of our local animal sanctuaries. Their goal is to “foster an evolution in critical thought about who is food and who is friend through rescue, rehabilitation, sanctuary and education.” Recently their work has been severely impacted by the Avian Influenza (AI) outbreak.
This disease has no cure and kills between 90-100% of the infected birds. The AI Death Toll so far in Minnesota is 2,895,350 —nationwide it is 37.87M birds. It has affected wild, farmed, sanctuary and backyard birds. It has also spread in isolated instances to other animals, including humans.
The deaths are mostly due to government decree, not the virus itself. Mass killings are mandated as an attempt to stop the spread of the disease and to protect factory farms. The killings are often done in cruel and inhumane ways.
Many experts believe that the conditions of factory farms encourage the spread and mutation of such viruses.
We’re hiring a Design Director!
Want to use your skills to make a difference for farmed animals? Know someone whose experience would be a great fit? Applications for this exciting job are due by 3 p.m. on June 8. Read on for the full details and how to apply.
Meet Ibtisam Brown–Twin Cities Veg Fest Volunteer
Ibtisam Brown (she/her) is volunteering as Food Vendor Coordinator for this year’s Twin Cities Veg Fest. She enjoyed working with the vendors last year and signed up again.
When she was new to the Twin Cities six years ago she attended the Festival and got hooked! “I was looking for ways to connect to the local vegan community and loved how inclusive and empathetic the members of CAA were,” she shared.
We asked her some questions so that we can get to know her better: