November 25, 2024
On November 23, 2024, Matthews Park in Minneapolis was filled with the amazing smells of vegan dishes as over 100 people came together for Compassionate Action for Animals’ (CAA) annual ThanksLiving potluck. This special event featured a feast of plant-based foods, including highlights like vegan turkey and gluten-free meatloaf donated by The Herbivorous Butcher. These favorites, along with a variety of sides, drinks, and desserts, showed off the creativity and passion of the CAA community.
Building Connections
The ThanksLiving potluck wasn’t just about the food — it was also about connecting with others. Guests filled out forms with fun questions like “What can you teach others?” and “What would you like to learn?” These conversation starters led to great discussions and helped people at each table bond, even if they already knew each other.
Fun Prizes and Generous Donors
To make the event even more exciting, completed forms were entered into a prize drawing. Thanks to donations, five lucky winners received gifts like a Tabitha Brown cookbook and gift cards to NE Wellness. The grand prize — a $100 gift card to NE Wellness — went to Breanna Knutson. She plans to use it for a relaxing massage (well deserved after leading the Twin Cities Veg Fest Planning Committee!).
Inspiring Moments and a Triple Match Fundraiser
During a brief program, CAA Executive Director Laura Matanah thanked the volunteers and donors who help make CAA’s work possible and encouraged folks to consider joining them. She also shared details about the year-end triple match fundraiser, where donations through December 31 will be matched three times thanks to contributions from CAA co-founder Dave Rolsky, volunteer Phil Martens, and others.
In addition, Jared Rolsky shared the touching story behind his late wife’s jewelry, donated to raise funds for CAA. Guests could view the jewelry, which is being auctioned online until the end of November. The collection offers beautiful options perfect for thoughtful holiday gifts.
It was also announced that it is once again time to order CAA gear! Get the perfect tee shirt, hat, mug, etc. to show your support for CAA and the animals.
Thank You to Everyone Involved
This event was made possible by the amazing teamwork of participants and volunteers. From preparing food (including the food donated by The Herbivorous Butcher) to welcoming guests, setting up tables, and cleaning up, every effort mattered. Event coordinator, Tamuno Imbu offers a huge thank you to everyone who helped make the ThanksLiving potluck such a success!
A New Take on Thanksgiving
ThanksLiving is a way to reframe Thanksgiving by reflecting on its history and imagining a future that respects Indigenous land rights and treaties. By gathering as a community, CAA celebrates a vision of kindness and inclusion for all beings. Tamuno Imbu, CAA’s Community Organizer, shared an exciting update a recent development in returning land to Native communities.
In June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that 11,778 acres of Chippewa National Forest land would be transferred back to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. The move was part of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act signed into law in 2020, which reverses a land seizure by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs in the 1940s.
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 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 events page to see what is coming up or volunteer page to see all opportunities!
Together, we can build a compassionate community and make a difference for animals!