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Young philanthropists Scout and Bryn use chore money to support Twin Cities Veg Fest!
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.
Twin Cities Plant-Based Bike Crawl Sparks Excitement and Fundraising for Twin Cities Veg Fest
August 12, 2024
On July 28, over 50 participants joined Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) for the second Twin Cities Plant-Based Bike Crawl. They enjoyed a fun-filled day of biking, vegan eating, and partying around Minneapolis. It was a fantastic way to launch the fundraising campaign for Twin Cities Veg Fest.
The Rolling Dine-Out Experience
The Bike Crawl was designed for riders of all skill levels and offered two route options. Both routes took cyclists through the beautiful, tree-lined streets of Minneapolis, with stops for delicious vegan fare at Reverie Cafe + Bar and Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken. Those on the 30-mile route also sampled food from Francis Burger Joint, while the 11.3-mile riders enjoyed a cookie from Trio Plant-Based. VIP riders received a custom CAA Aero Tech bike jersey, along with other perks.
The After-Party for All
The day wrapped up with an After-Party at Reverie Cafe + Bar, where riders were joined by friends and CAA supporters to celebrate. The event featured live music, food, drinks, games, and a variety of vegan vendors. Many folks who did not participate in the Bike Crawl came just for the After-Party to enjoy all the fun, as well as the delicious brunch menu at Reverie.
The fun included games like Ping Pong Ball Toss and Rubber Duck Pond, both of which were fundraisers for Twin Cities Veg Fest. Many party-goers tried their luck at these fun, carnival-style games.
Leave a Legacy for Animals
After you’re gone, what kind of legacy do you want to leave? A powerful way to put your values into action is by creating a will. Making a will enables you to also provide for companion animals and/or plan for the care of your digital assets, such as social media accounts.
Connecting Values With Action: Faustine Micheyl’s CAA Volunteer Experience
July 22, 2024
Faustine Micheyl is relatively new to volunteering with Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA). She began this past winter with the Handwrite Hope for Animals postcard mailing campaign and recently joined the planning committee for Twin Cities Veg Fest.
How she got connected to CAA
Faustine discovered CAA through social media and decided to get involved due to her passion for helping animals, humans, and the earth.
Her volunteer roles
Currently, Faustine serves as the social media coordinator on the planning committee for Twin Cities Veg Fest and is busy helping to plan all the great social media content for the upcoming festival. Check out @tcvegfest on Instagram and you might see one of the many fun and eye-catching reels created by Faustine that highlight various aspects of the festival. Her creativity helps us spread awareness of the festival and build excitement for attendees.
Make Ahead Meals | Vegan Recipe Club | August 2024
Join us on August 20 from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm for this month’s online Vegan Recipe Club meeting. The cookbook for the month is The Make Ahead Vegan Cookbook (2015) by Ginny Kay McMeans.
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.
Download the recipes for this month.
About The Make Ahead Vegan Cookbook
The publisher describes the book as follows:
“A plant-based diet that is as satisfying as Mom’s home cooking. Vegan food with down-home appeal is the sort of vegan food Americans want to eat. Sit down to a dinner that looks and tastes great, but just happens to be completely plant-based so it’s also good for you. That’s how Ginny McMeans cooks, and here she shares 125 of her favorite recipes. Every recipe can also be made-ahead and frozen for later, as these meals are designed for the busy person. This is delicious, homemade, everyday food that you can cook fresh on a whim or pull from your freezer for a quick healthy supper.”
Join the After-Party at the second Twin Cities Plant-Based Bike Crawl
July 8, 2024
Celebrate with us at the second Twin Cities Plant-Based Bike Crawl After-Party on Sunday, July 28, from 1 pm to 3 pm at Reverie Cafe + Bar. This lively event, hosted by Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA), will feature music, food, drinks, games, and local vegan vendors. Whether or not you participated in the bike crawl, everyone is welcome to join the festivities a the After-Party!
New Beginnings: Marmaduke and Tinker at Spring Farm Sanctuary
July 8, 2024
Spring Farm Sanctuary is delighted to welcome two of their newest residents, Marmaduke and Tinker. Despite the recent trauma from losing their previous caring home, these two charming pigs have landed in a new safe and nurturing place.
Their Journey to Spring Farm Sanctuary
Marmaduke and Tinker spent the first six years of their lives in a loving home in Wisconsin, where they were treated as cherished members of the family. Raised since they were just eight weeks old, they enjoyed a life full of affection and care. However, a tragic accident changed everything. This past March, their “dad” suffered a freak accident, resulting in paralysis that left him unable to care for them. Friends of the family reached out to Spring Farm Sanctuary to see if they would take them in. They knew this would ensure that the pigs would be well cared for. Spring Farm was glad to take them in.
A Vegan Evening at Owamni Grows CAA’s Impact for Animals
June 27, 2024
On Saturday June 22, forty-six people enjoyed a delicious meal, connecting with fellow animal advocates, and moving CAA’s work for animals forward during A Vegan Evening at Owamni. A description of the evening and photo slideshow are below.
Food, Community, and Presentations
The evening featured a four-course menu of Indigenous food from the award-winning restaurant along with a presentation on Owamni’s mission and each of the dishes from restaurant staff. Guests had a wonderful time visiting with each other while enjoying family-style dining.
There was also a presentation about the impact of CAA’s work for Minnesota’s farmed animals from treasurer and volunteer Hannah Milos as well as executive director Laura Matanah. Hannah and Laura’s presentations emphasized the critical role of volunteers and donors in helping us reach our goal of inviting one million Minnesotans to take action for animals by 2027.
Connecting, Learning, and Inspiration: Highlights From the Animal and Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit
June 11, 2024
The 2024 Animal and Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit in May brought together over 800 passionate advocates from around the world. This included five representatives from CAA. Their experiences were a fertile ground for learning, networking, and inspiration. Across various workshops, panels, and informal gatherings, our team collected valuable experiences and insights. This will assist CAA further advance its work moving forward.
What is the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit (AVA)?
AVA is an international summit for individuals and organizations involved in animal advocacy. The summit included four days of workshop and plenary sessions on a variety of related topics. These ran the gamut from communications to policy work, strategies, organizing, fundraising, activism, and much more. Participants included those active in animal rights, animal welfare, alternative proteins, food system change, and related movements.
Volunteer Spotlight: Grace Prins. Building Community and Compassion by Volunteering With CAA
June 11, 2024
Grace Prins has been a passionate volunteer with Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) since 2022. Her first volunteering was at Twin Cities Veg Fest. She reports that “When I first went vegan, it felt pretty lonely because I didn’t know anyone else who shared my values and lifestyle. I started looking for ways to meet other vegans and volunteer for a cause I believed in and found CAA!” She signed up for our emails, followed us on MeetUp, and finally decided to volunteer. She was impressed by the dedication of CAA volunteers, especially those who spent a lot of time planning the festival.
Grace’s volunteer roles at CAA
Grace has volunteered in many different roles at CAA. She worked twice on the Zero Waste team at Twin Cities Veg Fest, helped plan the Vegan Chili Cook-Off, and joined the Annual Banquet committee for 2024. She also assisted people in signing up for the Veg Pledge at The Smell of Money movie screening and volunteered at Chicken Run Rescue for International Respect for Chickens Day. Beyond CAA, Grace also volunteers at Farmaste Animal Sanctuary, helping with barn cleanings.