Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends (AARF)

Congratulations to Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends (AARF) for hosting their first fully vegan event and adopting a vegan menu policy for public fundraisers and events and a vegetarian menu policy for staff and volunteer events!

AARF is a nonprofit, no-kill rescue serving cats and dogs in the Atlanta area. They work to save as many animals as they can through their cat adoption rooms at AARF Pet Central and foster homes.

We are so thrilled that AARF served vegan food at their AARFstravaganza event! The event was a “picnic style” concert to benefit their foster/adoption program, pet food pantry, and community outreach. Local musicians, such as Michelle Malone, performed, and there were raffles baskets and silent auction prizes.

Their vegan food menu included:

• Veggie Straws

• Lotus Biscoff Cookies

• Lenny and Larry’s Complete Cookies

• Rip Van Dark Chocolate Wafer Cookies

• That’s It Fruit Bars

• MadeGood Granola Bars

• Kibo Chickpea Chips

• Bada Bean Bada Boom Bean Snacks

The event was a success, and AARF met their fundraising goal! Guest commented on how much they loved the food, and several people said they were very grateful for the vegan options.

We are thankful for all that AARF does to help animals, and we are so happy they’ve made the compassionate decision to adopt a veg menu policy. Thank you, AARF!

Food for Thought Annual Retreat 2023

Last week, the Food for Thought team had our annual retreat! Three of our four team members traveled to Animal Place, a farmed animal sanctuary in Grass Valley, CA.

Since our team is remote, we were so excited to get to spend time with some of Animal Place’s nearly 300 rescued animals like cows, pigs, chickens, and goats. We got plenty of snuggles and provided many pets. We also got to spend time with some of our colleagues at Animal Place in person!

On Saturday, we tabled at Animal Care Faire in Sacramento, CA and had some great conversations about the importance of having a vegan menu policy for shelter events and fundraisers.

Additionally, the team spent some time coming up with an action plan for the Food for Thought program in 2024.

We had a wonderful time and can’t wait for the next retreat!

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Cat Haven

We are excited to announce our latest Vegan Event Grant Recipient, Cat Haven! It’s their mission to lead their community in Baton Rouge, LA in becoming a no-kill community for cats and kittens. They provide care, shelter, and adoption services, and advocate for routine spaying and neutering for population control.

We are so grateful that Cat Haven served vegan food at their donor appreciation event! The event allowed board members and staff to connect with donors in a more intimate setting, and donors were able to learn about Cat Haven’s needs and future goals.

Their vegan food menu included:

• Tabouleh

• Sweet Potato Stir-Fry

• Mediterranean Stir-Fry Nachos

• Curried Potatoes

• Poke Bowls

• Cupcakes

Guests had a wonderful time, and several people commented on how great the food was and how much they appreciated the presentation. The organization said the event was a success. We’re happy to hear that!

A huge thank you to Cat Haven for making the compassionate choice to serve vegan food at their event!

Recap: NEFHS Conference 2023

The New England Federation of Humane Societies connects animal welfare professionals so that they can educate, collaborate, and network with each other. As part of their efforts, they hold an annual training conference. The conference covers basic knowledge for those just starting out, advanced lectures for those who are specialized, and progressive discussions to lead shelters into the future.

This years conference was held at the Hartford Marriott Downtown in beautiful Hartford, Connecticut. Food for Thought’s East Coast Coordinator, Tami Andrew, represented Animal Place with a table at the conference. She met a number of wonderful representatives from organizations in the northeast US. 

Though NEFHS tabling was a bit different from most conferences–the booths were not in a designated exhibition ballroom but instead in the lobby outside of the meeting rooms–it was still an overwhelmingly positive experience. Since people were always milling about the lobby for snacks, food, and coffee, there was time for casual conversation with guests, as well as fellow exhibitors.

Sharing Food For Thought’s mission to help nonprofit organizations extend their compassion to all animals by adopting a vegan or vegetarian menu policy was met with a lot of enthusiasm from the guests at NEFHS. There was a high number of people who already had an informal policy in place at their organization and were interested in making it official. Many other guests were in full support of FFT’s mission and interested in resources to help persuade their board, as well as grant opportunities to prove how successful vegan events are.

The NEFHS conference was a great example of our mission since it was a vegetarian event with lots of vegan options. The food ranged from sushi to sliders and included a smoothie station and hot apple cider! It was a lovely experience filled with sweet treats and great meets and we look forward to next year already! 

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: HEART L.A.

Congratulations to Heart L.A. (Housing Equality & Advocacy Resource Team) for hosting their first fully vegan event and adopting a vegan menu policy!

HEART L.A. believes no one should have to leave their home because of their animals. Located in Los Angeles, CA, they are a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to keeping people and their companion animals together. Their housing advocates and attorneys help renters who are facing harassment or eviction because of their companion animal. HEART L.A. also educates animal welfare groups on the legal rights of having a companion animal.

In December 2022, they hosted their Under One Woof event. We love that they supported local businesses. Their DJ was a social worker, their centerpieces were made by a local nascent business, and their food was catered by a local queer/trans-Latinx kitchen collective. Their event venue was also accessible for people with disabilities.

Their vegan food menu included:

• Tostada bar: tinga, beans, vegan cheeze, avocado, salsa

• Vegan ceviche with chips or tostada

• Tacos dorados: jackfruit chikun or potato queso fresco

All of their attendees were impressed and satisfied with the food! There was some initial hesitation from meat lovers, but every single one of them loved the food. Vegans at the event were delighted to be able to eat all of the food on the menu. All of the food was gone within an hour!

We love and support HEART LA’s mission. We are honored that they chose Food for Thought to sponsor the food at their event. Thank you for including farmed animals in your sphere of compassion!

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Carol House Quick Fix Pet Clinic

We are excited to announce another Vegan Event Grant Recipient, Carol House Quick Fix Pet Clinic! Their organization offers low-cost spay/neuter in Saint Louis, MO. Over 20,000 adoptable pets are euthanized annually in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. They establish programs and policies to decrease the number of unwanted dogs and cats euthanized each year.

We are honored that Carol House Quick Fix Pet Clinic served vegan food at their 10 Year Celebration event! They celebrated 100,000 spays and neuters which is incredible!

Their vegan food menu included:

• Party Ryes

• Impossible Sliders

• Pretzel Bites with Vegan Cheese

• Vegan Chick’n Wangs

• Vanilla Cake

• Ice Cream: Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Chip, Raspberry Sorbet, Lemon Poppy Seed

Guests enjoyed themselves and thought the food was delicious. The organization reported no difference in event success based on menu choices when compared to previous events. We love to hear that!

Thank you for serving vegan food at your event and congratulations on 100,000 spays and neuters!

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Karma Cat + Zen Dog Rescue Society

We are happy to award our Vegan Event Grant to Karma Cat + Zen Dog Rescue Society! Located in New Jersey, their organization provides a safe and peaceful haven for homeless, abandoned, or abused animals. They are dedicated to decreasing the number of cats and dogs euthanized in kill shelters. They offer adoption, trap-neuter-return, and education programs.

Karma Cat + Zen Dog hosted their annual event, Paws for Celebration, for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. The event comprised of a buffet dinner, dancing, and a silent auction. Historically, this event has been vegetarian. This is the first time they are serving fully vegan food!

Their vegan food menu included:

• Baked Vegetable Lasagna

• Eggplant Rollatini

• Cavatelli & Broccoli w/ Aioli Sauce

• Green Salad

• Roasted Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables

• Spring Rolls

• Cakes & Brownies from Cats Luck

Guests enjoyed the food and raved about the desserts both at and after the event!

Karma Cat + Zen Dog Rescue Society visions a world where every companion animal is respected, fed, warm, happy, and not in danger of being killed because of being temporarily homeless. We are excited their organization extended its compassion to farmed animals. Congratulations on adopting a vegan menu policy!

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Friends of Oakland Animal Services

We're excited to announce another vegan event grant recipient, Friends of Oakland Animal Services! This wonderful organization partners with Oakland Animal Services to take in over 5,000 homeless animals each year and provide critical services such as veterinary care. While they've had smaller events with vegan options, their first fully vegan event, Raise the Woof!, was so successful that it sold out!

Their guests loved the food! Here was their mouth-watering vegan menu:

• Broccoli, potato, and cheddar tofu quiche

• Smoked Gouda, bacon, and spinach turnovers

• Soy chicken salad spinach wraps

• Blue cheese almond stuffed baby portobello mushrooms

• Almond Ricotta stuffed shiitake mushrooms topped with tomato and basil-walnut pesto

• Tomato-basil bruschetta

• Olive tapenade with Miyoko's cheese

• Artichoke dip

• Caesar Salad kabob

They also completely ran out of dessert which were catered by Timeless Cafe! We're happy to hear that there was a wide variety of plant-based options for everyone to enjoy!

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Spay Neuter Project Los Angeles

Congratulations to our vegan grant recipient, The Spay Neuter Project Los Angeles! This incredible organization provides quality veterinary care to underserved communities in Los Angeles. Their low-waste and fully plant-based event, The Million Pet Soirée, was a huge success in raising money for their cause.

In addition to raising funds, The Spay Neuter Project Los Angeles received positive feedback about their vegan food. They served fruit and cheese platters, caprese pizza, salad with Gorgonzola dressing, sandwiches with veggies and cheese all from a dairy-free cheese shop called Vromage, veggie platters from Heirloom LA, and delicious vegan pastries from Cake Girl. What a perfect opportunity for their non-vegan and vegetarian guests to enjoy good vegan food!

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center

Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center recently held their first vegan event called Tito's & Tails!

This fundraiser benefited homeless cats and dogs in their community and we're happy to say that serving vegan food surpassed their expectations. Their cater, Kick Ass Vegan, provided delicious vegan food including pineapple shrimp bowls, ceviche, mac and cheese, jackfruit taquitos, stuffed mushrooms, chips and guacamole, and cookies. All of their guests raved about it! We're excited to see yet another successful vegan event!

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Fearless Kitty Rescue

We're pleased to announce yet another vegan grant recipient, Fearless Kitty Rescue! This no-kill cat rescue in Arizona used our grant to serve vegan food for one of their largest fundraisers of the year, Wet Your Whiskers.

The fundraiser proved to be a huge success! At the event, attendees bid on a silent auction while enjoying wine and vegan appetizers. The food was provided by a favorite local plant-based restaurant, Green New American Vegetarian. Some of their appetizers included vegan BBQ 'chicken' skewers, peanut tofu skewers, artichoke burritos, samosas, and 'turkey' club wraps. A majority of the attendees had never tried vegan food before and were extremely impressed with their first experience.  

Since the organization aligns with the idea that serving animals to save animals is wrong, Fearless Kitty Rescue has chosen to be meat-free for all their future events! Thank you for extending your compassion to farmed animals and congratulations on adopting a formal vegetarian menu policy! 

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Student Sustainability Coalition

Photo by Tacos Sín Karma.

Photo by Tacos Sín Karma.

Featuring event grant recipient: Student Sustainability Coalition, CSULB. This student-run nonprofit used event grant funds to provide vegan food for their 2nd annual State of the Environment Conference. This year’s conference had good attendance, with local activists, plant-based food champions, urban gardeners, economists, and educators sharing their experience and expertise on the state of the environment with an engaged audience.

The conference provided vegan tacos by Tacos Sín Karma that were a big hit, with attendees saying they would be open to eating more plant-based meals if they knew vegan food could taste so good!  Chips were also included, along with plenty of fresh fruit.

Thank you, Student Sustainability Coalition, for providing a fun and approachable plant-based menu at your conference and introducing students and community members to new ways of thinking about how what’s on their plate affects animals, people, and the environment.

We love the wide variety of vegan foods on the menus that grantees are providing for their events! If you would like to apply for our grant to help with your first vegan event, please see our grant criteria and applications here.

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Greater Farallones Association

We’re happy to announce another successful event made possible by our Vegan Event Grant!The Greater Farallones Association provided all plant-based foods for their Fifth Ocean Climate Summit. The Summit is held every three years and previously featured a few veg options, but not a fully vegan menu. This time around there was a record turn-out and attendees were able to munch on yummy earth-friendly foods while listening to presentations that identified climate action priorities for the North-central California coast and ocean region. And though the Summit is not meant to be a fundraiser, this year’s event was profitable for the first time and will serve as seed money for the next Ocean Climate Summit in 2022!
 
Attendees commented favorably on the food choices, saying they were impressed that Greater Farallones Association took a big step and made an impactful statement by making the event vegan. In turn, the Summit organizers were pleased, mentioning that the organization has “Evolved our understanding of the impact our collective food choices make on the environment and want to promote this to our attendees who all work in the environmental conservation sector.”
 
On the menu:
 
Breakfast

• Bagels with hummus, assorted jelly jams, “Smart Balance” vegan spread, sliced tomato, cucumber, and capers.

• Fresh fruit platter

• Coffee and tea service with soy and almond milk

 Hors d' Oeuvres

• Fresh spring rolls with cucumber, mango, mint, and cilantro, served with spicy peanut sauce

• Grilled vegetable platter with seasonal vegetables and homemade hummus

• Tomato bruschetta with diced tomatoes and basil and balsamic vinaigrette, served on a garlic crustade

 Luncheon

• Roasted portabella mushroom with pesto, balsamic and pickled red onions, cherry tomatoes, and mixed greens served on focaccia

• Homemade farro salad with kale, pomegranate, and maple vinaigrette

• Greek salad with Kalamata olives, tomatoes, cucumber, and vinaigrette

• Assorted grain breads and rolls

• Fresh Fruit Platter

• Vegan Cookies

Please join us in thanking Greater Farallones Association for taking a leap and producing a fabulously sustainable climate-friendly event.

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Wildlife Rescue League

We’re pleased to highlight recent event grant recipient, Wildlife Rescue League (WRL), based in Falls Church, Virginia. WRL provides care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife with the intent of releasing them back into their native habitat; and they run a wildlife assistance helpline too!

WRL’s Groundhog Day Vegan Luncheon was well attended and a fun and educational way to introduce delicious plant-based foods to the public and WRL’s members and volunteers. During the lunch, a WRL board member spoke compellingly and comprehensively about the case to be vegan for wildlife, and quoted our Why Vegan for Wildlife? resource. Food for Thought donor and volunteer, Alysoun Mahoney was also given the opportunity to talk generally about the FFT program and resources available.

On the tasty all-vegan and organic menu, prepared by GreenFare Organic Cafe: Local greens with orange walnut salad dressing, veggie chili over brown rice, sweet potato lasagna, and apple crispy for dessert.

WRL has now adopted a plant-based menu policy, “in recognition of the destruction of wildlife habitat that is caused by animal agriculture and the killing of wildlife that is done to protect livestock. The organization hopes that the new policy will bring attention to the ways our everyday meal choices may impact wildlife.”

Congratulations, Wildlife Rescue League, on your successful vegan luncheon and on your menu policy leadership which serves as an example to other wildlife organizations!

For more on the event, WRL put together these video highlights.

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: San Diego 350

UPDATE: 

After the event, the SanDiego350 board passed a formal veg menu policy, as follows. A big thank you to SanDiego350 for walking their talk as an environmental organization!

”All SanDiego350 events will feature all-vegetarian food items, with a concerted effort made to serve all-vegan food items. This policy will be in effect for all SanDiego350-hosted events, including but not limited to: fundraisers, potlucks, meetings, trainings, and parties. SanDiego350 funds will only be used to purchase all-vegan items. While not all plant-based foods have a lower greenhouse gas impact than all animal-based products, the science in this area shows that favoring plant-based foods will, on average, substantially reduce a person's contribution to climate change. SanDiego350 seeks to share information and encourage individuals to come to their own conclusions about what choices are best for them, but as an organization we want our purchasing power to support solutions to climate change wherever possible.”

​Our latest event grant recipient is SanDiego350, an inclusive volunteer organization working to prevent the worst impacts of climate change and climate injustice. Their Party for the Planetvolunteer appreciation event was a great success! Attendees loved the wide variety of delicious foods served and many expressed pleasant surprise that everything was vegan. “I thought we had plenty: abundance is key at parties like these,” said Steering Committee member Kim Kishon. “I was happy to see how far the money went! It seemed like people enjoyed the Chipotle burritos, chick'n wings, and quartered veggie burgers...”

On the vegan menu: Entrées-- Pizza from a nearby pizzeria, Chipotle burritos, and a variety of sandwiches, wraps, and appetizers like “chicken wings” from Native Foods. Sides and hors-d’oeuvres-- Macaroni salad and fresh fruit; nuts, chips, and pretzels; salsa, hummus, and guacamole. The celebration was complete with vegan cake and cookies from Whole Foods, pinwheels from a local natural foods store, plus a selection of plant-based creamers for hot beverages.

What a beautiful spread and an excellent example of how to source enticing vegan food from both local joints and larger chains. Congratulations, SanDiego350, on creating a truly sustainable event that's kinder to the earth and its inhabitants!

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Animal Aid

Portland, Oregon based Animal Aid recently hosted their annual Whiskers, Wine & Whisky gala, and this year thanks to a Food for Thought event grant, it was an all-vegan affair! Animal Aid is a nonprofit, no-kill animal rescue and welfare organization that helps companion animals in need; actively promotes spay and neuter programs to reduce overpopulation; and educates the public by promoting respect for all animals, the ethic of compassion, and the need to be kind and responsible stewards.

On the savory vegan menu: Entrées—Eggplant osso buco and za’tar spiced kebabs. Sides and hors-d'oeuvres—Root vegetable salad, house-made salad rolls with sweet chili dipping sauce, and vegetable crudité. The meal was topped off with a delicious cranberry pear crisp for dessert.

According to Director of Operations, Paige España, the event was a resounding success, doubling its fundraising goal from the prior year, and eliciting lots of positive feedback. “We're… learning how to pick vegan dishes that have a wide appeal so that those people on the fence can have a good (perhaps surprisingly good) experience and hopefully be more open to incorporating more vegan foods in their diet and more willing to consider a vegan lifestyle overall,” said España when reflecting on the event. She also mentioned that for their next event, they would look for a heartier second entrée option (in addition to the eggplant dish). This is a great tip for event planners working with caterers, as guests expect plant-based entrées to be just as delectable and filling as more traditional options.

Congratulations, Animal Aid, on a successful event showcasing compassion to all animals!

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Citizen Coalition for Wildlife and Environment

We’re happy to report on another successful event, this time by Citizen Coalition for Wildlife and Environment, of Grand Island, NY. Wildlife Appreciation and Education Day brought together a diverse group of people to talk about and educate on compassionate coexistence and habitat and wildlife protection—and snacks were provided through our Food for Thought vegan event grant!

Event organizer Dave Reilly said that the food was a big hit, with many attendees expressing their shock that it was all vegan. The enticing comfort food spread put together by local community college food service included vegan “mac and cheese,” plant-based sliders, and pickled beet and chef salads. According to Reilly, the college caterer was so pleased with their completely vegan menu, that they plan to advertise it as an option for future events, which will help even more functions go vegan!

​A big thanks to the Coalition for encouraging people to consider the choices they make that affect both animals and the environment.

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Climate Tracker

​Congratulations to event grant recipient, Climate Tracker, an international organization that trains aspiring young journalists to learn and write about climate change! Climate Tracker recently hosted a three-day Climate Journalism Workshop in Poland, bringing together participants from four different countries and providing delicious vegan food for all activities.

International Program Manager Arthur Wyns relayed that the event was a great success. “Reducing meat consumption is an important element in tackling climate change, a fact most participants were unaware of going into the workshop,” he said. “Differently from other such events we have organised in the past, this all-vegan workshop led to many more heated discussions on environmental issues such as meat consumption, lifestyle change, and sustainability. Some of the young journalists have already written about the subject in their national media since the workshop.”

“Only a few of the participants were vegan or vegetarian,” said Wyn. “For most participants, eating vegan was a new experience they would not have undertaken on their own. Many participants were surprised how delicious and varied the food was they were served.” Wyn also mentioned that the caterers were new to creating plant-based meals as well, and they found the process a creative challenge, proudly sharing the results on social media. Menus for the multi-day event included local Polish foods, Middle Eastern style tasters (think hummus and olives), vegan burgers, and fresh juice. 

After the event, Climate Tracker adopted a formal menu policy which states all projects going forward “are obliged to be 100% vegetarian, and should aim at being entirely plant-based.” The group plans to incorporate this new policy into a broader sustainability policy in the new year.

Thank you, Climate Tracker, for walking your talk as an environmental organization by providing vegan food for your trainings and implementing a plant-based events policy!

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Our Companions Animal Rescue

Last month, Our Companions Animal Rescue hosted their annual birthday party fundraiser, celebrating six years since they opened their sanctuary in Ashford, CT. Our Companions Animal Rescue (OCAR) is home to cats and dogs with medical and/or behavioral challenges where they are provided the time, guidance, and care until they find their forever homes. OCAR also provides a number of programs for their community including dog and cat behavioral services, training classes, support services for feral cats, veterinary assistance, and public education.

OCAR has been a long-time supporter of the Food for Thought campaign, adopting their formal vegetarian menu policy in 2015, but this event marks the first time all food provided was plant-based. Local caterer Not Only Juice provided attendees with a dazzlingly delicious  spread of arugula beet salad, potato salad, chickpea salad, quinoa salad, caponata wraps, "bacon" and sweet potato sandwiches, "chicken" salad wraps, and vegan cupcakes adorned with pictures of sanctuary residents. How cute! 

Volunteers, donors, and guests were invited to tour the sanctuary and meet the animals. According to OCAR Executive Director, Susan Linker, “While our Sanctuary is lovely and a great place to visit I have to say that the food made the event. All the guests felt so special to have such a delicious and ethical spread provided for them and people raved about the food.”

We applaud OCAR for their steadfast commitment to compassion for all animals and we wish them all the best as they continue their life-saving work. Thank you for being humane leaders for your community!

Vegan Event Grant Recipient: Nevada County Pets In Need

Nevada County Pets in Need (NCPIN), a 100% volunteer staffed organization that collects food and supplies for the companion animals of those in need, recently held a beautiful gratitude event for 80 of their donors. It was also their first ever all vegan event! The fully plant-based reception was a hit from start to finish.

The catered dinner was purchased with a grant provided by the Food for Thought program. Thanks to the talents of Emily’s Catering & Cakes, attendees enjoyed an array of tasty bites including tofu lettuce cups, crostini with fig and butternut squash, endive with curried tofu, stuffed mushrooms, polenta with chili, seasonal fresh fruit, and cobbler. (It all sounds absolutely delicious!) The best part of it all? Zero animals were harmed in the creation of the meal!

Patti Galle, the Executive Director of NCPIN, said people were raving about “how good [the] vegan food was,” and added that “many had not tried it before [and] loved it!” It is always fun to try new foods. It is also so exciting to see more and more animal welfare groups like NCPIN expanding their scope of impact by choosing to leave animal products off their plates at events. Way to go, NCPIN! We deeply admire your commitment and compassion.

If your organization is interested in hosting its premiere plant-based event, be sure to check out our grants page.