Enewsletter

Last Two Days!

Shop at The Vegetarian Site in June and 10% of your purchase goes to Vegan Outreach!

Notes from Vegan Outreach

We Need Your Help!

Vegan Outreach has received a conditional donation of $5,000 from a dedicated supporter. We cannot cash the check until we raise an equivalent amount, and we are currently just $1,600 short. Please give whatever you can today, and your donation will mean twice as much to the animals! (Mark donations "conditional grant.")

Thank you to everyone who has already donated!

Activist Profile: Linda Bower

Throughout the summer, Vegan Outreach has been profiling some of our top college leafleters. This week we turn our attention to dedicated Miami activist, Linda Bower. During the 2004 - 2005 school season, Linda handed out a total of 6,280 VO booklets directly to college students. A mother of two, Linda still makes the time necessary to effectively advocate for farmed animals, and does so in an engaging, upbeat manner. Below are some excerpts from our interview with her:

What made you decide to start leafleting and if you were nervous the first time, how did you get over it?
Advocating veganism is my passion. I found the VO flyers to be the most effective and since VO sent me leaflets when I needed them, I decided to return the favor by trying out their AAC program. Also, after reading A Meaningful Life, I was convinced that leafleting colleges would ultimately be the biggest instrument for change. I have to say that I was never nervous about leafleting; excited yes, nervous no.

Why do you leaflet colleges?
I leaflet colleges because independent youths are the most capable and willing people to absorb truth into their hearts.

What was your most positive college leafleting experience this year and why?
The most positive leafleting experience for me comes whenever Jon Camp [of Vegan Outreach] emails me to say that somebody from Miami contacted VO for more information. I cry every time.

What would you say to individuals hesitant about leafleting?
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Please name a major influence in your life and why he or she is such.
Emily the cow is one of my heroes....

Read the entire interview here!

Product of the Week

Alyson Powers of Iowa City writes: "Soy Delicious has a special "Truly Decadent" line of soy ice cream that is fantastic! My favorite flavors are Mocha Almond Fudge, Turtle Tracks and Peanut Butter Zig-Zag. Mmmmmm... Great for hot summer days!"

Send your nominees for Product of the Week to product@veganoutreach.org

Notes from All Over

Vegan Outreach's Efforts Pay Off!!

It appears that Vegan Outreach's efforts on college campuses may really be making a difference. ARAMARK (a company that provides foods on college campuses) reports that 24% of those who responded to their survey consider having vegan options important. Below are the relevant excerpts. The full press release can be found here.

Vegan Options More Popular Than Ever on College Campuses; ARAMARK Focuses on Meeting Customer Needs in Honor of Vegan World Day

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 2005--ARAMARK nationwide research has revealed that, out of more than 100,000 college students surveyed, nearly a quarter said finding vegan meals on campus -- which contain no meat, fish, poultry or other products derived from animals such as dairy, eggs or honey -- was important to them.

To better serve its customers and in honor of Vegan World Day on June 21st, ARAMARK (NYSE:RMK), a worldwide provider of managed services, has increased its number of vegan menu items on campuses and continues to work with campus vegetarian and vegan resource groups to meet customer demand....

"Our DiningStyles(TM) research has demonstrated that demand for vegan is especially strong among college students, as 24 percent of students indicated that vegan dishes were important to them," said Jenifer Bland-Campbell, MS, RD, Senior Director of Nutritional Program Development for ARAMARK. "With Just4U(TM) we're able to customize our menu mix to reflect how students eat on each campus and offer foods that fit into their own dining style."

"Just4U(TM) debuted in June 2004, and we have since added approximately 220 vegan and vegetarian recipes to the lineup," said Mike Crane, ARAMARK Corporate Executive Chef and Senior Director of Culinary Development. "We've created vegan items such as Sweet Thai Tofu Stir-Fry, Broccoli Teriyaki, Eggless "Egg" Salad, and Vegan "Cheese" Burgers to name a few." Each dish contains flavorful meat or cheese alternatives, made from soy or other vegan products.

Notes from Our Members

As a meat and fish eater all my life, my mind is now in turmoil after reading Why Vegan. I am 50 years old and set in my ways, however life is about to change and maybe I should explore more about becoming a vegan. I have no animosity towards the meat industry; I guess I've been programmed since birth. I just don't want to look the other way now that this brochure has opened my eyes. Please be so kind to send me a Vegan Starter Pack and a few copies of Why Vegan so that I can show my friends and let them see why I'm considering a major change.
-TM, Stone Mountain, GA, 6/23/05

Last night a few of us took the Compassion On Wheels van out to Malcom X College in Chicago. We handed out 280 Why Vegans and 30 Por Que Veganos. Additionally, 12 copies of the Meet Your Meat DVD were given to students who wanted to share the video with friends and family. Although our raw numbers were unimpressive, the percentage of individuals reading the material and discussing it was an all-time high. It was inspiring to see a courtyard of 30 students all reading Why Vegan as if they were studying for finals.
     One woman told me she was a former worker at a Tyson's Food plant which got her thinking about animal cruelty. She said that after seeing the video and getting the materials, she was ready to go vegetarian. She asked me how to do it. I explained that vegetarianism isn't a club she can join, but merely a tool to reduce animal suffering and improve her health. I directed her to Vegan Outreach for a starter kit. She asked if it was okay for her to have a hamburger every now and then. I explained that she's an adult and can make her own choices, but added that any reduction in the amount of animal products she consumed was clearly a step in the right direction. In short, do the best you can.
-Tom Fletcher, Chicago, 6/23/05

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Vegan Outreach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the suffering of farmed animals by promoting informed, ethical eating. All donations are tax-deductible. Vegan Outreach POB 30865, Tucson, AZ 85751-0865