Date/Time
Saturday, June 8, 2024
10:00am - 3:00pm
Location
Harmon Park
Volunteer to do Outreach at WestFest
Join us at WestFest on Saturday, June 8! We are looking for a few volunteers to run outreach games to help attendees learn about how their food choices impact animals. There are several different shifts available. We also have opportunities to participate in the parade—either getting petition signatures or wearing the giant pig puppet. Your help is critical to a successful event. Sign up here.
What is WestFest?
WestFest is a festival on June 8 which celebrates the city of West St. Paul’s art, environment, and culture. The parade starts at 10:30, and the festival (featuring local artists, businesses, and more) runs 12-3 – more details here. This event takes place at Harmon Park (230 Bernard St. W). You may want to plan time to walk around the event before or after your volunteer shift.
Volunteering at WestFest
CAA’s outreach will take place on Saturday, June 8 from 10:30am to 3pm. We’ll be walking in the parade at 10:30, and then tabling from 12 to 3. Each volunteer shift is just a few hours long.
Through the parade, two people will walk inside a giant pig puppet with a sign about the intensive confinement that pigs endure in agriculture. Other people will walk alongside the puppet and gather petition signatures against intensive confinement.
At the festival, volunteers will engage attendees in discussing how to make our diets more humane by moving towards plant-based eating. Volunteers will invite interested people to take the Explore Veg Challenge and/or sign a petition against intensive confinement.
At the table, we’ll have a spin-the-wheel game where attendees guess an answer to a question about the ways animal agriculture harms individual animals. Sample spin wheel questions include:
- How many square feet of space are chicken farmers encouraged to provide for each chicken?
- Pigs’ tails are part of their spine and have many nerves. What percentage of pigs on farms have their tails cut off without painkillers?
- Chickens like to sleep through the night just like people do. How many hours of consecutive darkness do farmers have to give birds to let them sleep?
There is also a set of kid-friendly questions that encourage empathy for animals. We use these kid-friendly questions when children stop by.
Don’t worry, we’ll make sure you have the answers! When you share the correct answer it helps them see the impact of their diet on animals.
In addition, volunteers can help with measuring our impact by writing down comments from attendees during the event. We’ll provide a pen and notebook for doing so.
Who can volunteer?
All are welcome to volunteer and no experience is required. If you’re passionate about animal rights or welfare, or about helping people move towards plant-based eating, this event is for you. We’ll support you in how to do effective outreach.
How can I sign up to volunteer?
You can view the available positions online and sign up for a volunteer shift!
Support for Volunteers
We’ll reach out to you a few days prior to the event to confirm your participation. At that time we’ll introduce you to the staff leading the event. You’ll get their cell phone number in case anything comes up day-of.
At the event, we’ll make sure you get a chance to know the staff and other volunteers participating in outreach. Then we’ll help you know what to say to attendees and give you spin wheel questions and answers.
Before your shift, after your shift, or during a quiet time in your shift, we’ll have a plant-based snack and a drink for you to enjoy. We’ll also have a first aid kit on hand.
Will I hear from you after volunteering at the event?
Yes! The staff leading the event will reach out to thank you and tell you about the event’s impact. We want you to know about the difference you made as a result of volunteering with us.
Get involved at other Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) events!
Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) hosts many events throughout the year, including Twin Cities Veg Fest, Vegan Recipe Club, cooking classes, potlucks, outreach events, and so much more! If you can’t make this event, or just want to know about other opportunities to get involved with CAA, we’ve got so many ways to connect with the community, enjoy vegan food, and make a difference. Visit our volunteer page to see all opportunities!