August 19, 2024
Scout and Bryn Gavin from Chanhassen recently made a donation to Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA). What makes their gift even more special is the story behind it.
These two young people set aside some of the money they earned from chores and other activities for charity. They spent time researching local charities and decided to give their donation of $75 each to CAA. This decision shows their dedication to making a positive difference, even at a young age.
Earlier this month, Scout, Bryn, and their dad, Patrick, visited the CAA office in person to deliver their donation. They wanted to do more than just send money — they wanted to learn more about CAA’s mission and connect with the organization they chose to support. During their visit, they met with Laura Matanah, the Executive Director of CAA, who explained our work and why compassionate living is so important.
Their donation came at the perfect time. The money they gave will be doubled as part of a fundraising campaign for Twin Cities Veg Fest, a festival that hopes to attract more than 5,000 people and encourage them to take action for animals and explore plant-based eating. Scout and Bryn’s donation will help CAA get closer to this goal and make a real difference in spreading the message of compassion for all beings.
After their visit to the office, the Gavin family enjoyed a meal at Lulu Ethiovegan, a local restaurant, where they tried some delicious vegan Ethiopian food. They loved the experience and are excited to stay involved with CAA in the future.
The Gavin family’s kindness and thoughtful giving are truly inspiring. By encouraging Scout and Bryn’s compassion and generosity, they are helping to create a kinder future. We are thankful for their support and look forward to having them as part of the CAA community for years to come.
Youth Involvement at CAA
CAA welcomes families and people of all ages at our events! Many of our events, such as potlucks, cooking classes, dine-outs, and sanctuary tours are perfect for kids and family members of all ages.
Kids are welcome as volunteers at many events as well, including sanctuary work days, outreach events, our monthly meal service events at Simpson housing, some of the positions at Twin Cities Veg Fest, as well as remote opportunities like writing postcards. Younger kids will need a parent or guardian present for most of these opportunities, but they are all a great way to get the whole family involved in compassionate living.
If you have any questions about which events or volunteer opportunities are kid- or family-friendly, just reach out to info@exploreveg.org. We are happy to get in touch and help you find the right opportunities for your family.
What Is Twin Cities Veg Fest?
Twin Cities Veg Fest, organized by CAA, is the largest festival of its kind in the Midwest and has received international acclaim. The 12th Anniversary festival will be held on Sunday, September 22, at Harriet Island Park, St. Paul,
Join us for food, fun, and inspiration! We’ll have exhibitors, inspiring speakers, cooking demonstrations, a family area, and more. We’ll also reveal the winner of the Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge.
Admission is free and all are welcome! We are aiming for over 5,000 people to attend in person. Everyone is invited to explore and celebrate compassionate living. Check out this blog post for photos from last year’s festival.
Fun for Kids and Families at Twin Cities Veg Fest
This year, we’ll have more fun than ever for families and kids at Twin Cities Veg Fest! While most of the attractions — food trucks, food vendors, shopping, live music, cooking demos, and guest speakers — are fun for all ages, we’ll also have a special family fun area geared towards kids.
Our family fun area will have games like cornhole, hula hoops, ladder ball, and more. And this year, we’ll also have a bouncy house just for kids, adding to the fun. Watch for special appearances from Disney princesses at the festival too!
Why Support Twin Cities Veg Fest
Twin Cities Veg Fest makes a difference! More than 50% of attendees come to Twin Cities Veg Fest identifying as people who eat animal products. Over 85% of them leave the festival intending to decrease their consumption.
At the festival, attendees eat delicious plant-based food, learn about the whys and hows of vegan eating, and get resources and inspiration for continuing to live the plant-based lifestyle.
It costs about $2 per person, after what we bring in from exhibitors and sponsors, to put on the festival. That’s where you come in.
We need your help to bring more than 5,000 people to this year’s festival to have that life-changing experience. You donation will help support a free festival that includes:
- Music that draws new attendees
- Radio advertising
- Poster advertising
- Shuttles to bring people to the festival
- Free food samples
- Cooking demonstrations
- Presentations by animal advocates
- Zero-waste stations
Support from exhibitors, volunteers, and sponsors grows every year. But we still have expenses that this support doesn’t cover.
How to support the festival
Gifts of any size are critical to growing our compassionate community. Every gift is matched by generous individuals committed to helping the festival grow. That means a gift of $100 can bring 100 people to the festival!
We need to raise $10,000 by August 31 to reach our attendance goal. Donate now to make a difference.
Would you like to volunteer at the festival? Sign up now for a volunteer position! We have lots of options available. All volunteers get a festival t-shirt and those in high-need positions will also score a swag bag of goodies from our sponsors.
We hope to see the Gavin family — and you — on September 22 for a fun and informative time!