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Kenny Torrella provides the animals a voice at Middle Tennessee State University.

At the parade of ships, I heard from several vegetarians, and one person said, “Thanks for doing this.” A flesh-atarian wanted to debate everything. He’s the type who would want to drag us to the deep end of the excuse pool. But I wasn’t having it. I politely repeated that the bottom line of concern is suffering and, if he were suffering, he’d want someone to help him. He finally went away reading a booklet.
     A number of good conversations at the Portland (ME) Farmers’ Market. A man who used to work at a chicken farm confirmed, “It’s as horrible as your leaflet says it is…sometimes it’s even worse.”
—Lana Smithson, 7/21/10

At the Kings of Leon concert, Kristine (Kil), Srikanth (Karighattam), Stewart (Solomon), and I heard from many vegetarians and got plenty of thanks. One girl heard me say, “Oppose animal cruelty?” and immediately dropped all the other fliers she was holding to take mine. One girl received a leaflet from Srikanth, walked away, and then ran back to him saying, “Yes, thank you so much for this!” One person passed all the many leafleters quickly (as if running through flames); later, she picked up an Even If You Like Meat off the floor, then ran back and thanked Stewart.
—Nikki Benoit, 7/15/10

Very, very receptive and interested crowd at the Justin Bieber concert, and many people thanked us (Shani Campbell & Jeni Haines).
—Brian Grupe, 7/17/10

The Detroit Social Forum went really well! A few friends and I ended up passing out all the Compassionate Choices and Even If You Like Meat booklets (along with some Guides) in four days. Vegan Outreach changed my life many years ago; I can’t imagine what I’d be like if I hadn’t read Why Vegan?
—Will Gibala, 6/26/10

Mark, Mikael, Blythe, and I reached nearly 500 people with Christian Vegetarian Association booklets at the Ignite Chicago 2010 Christian Rock tour. One woman said she had been thinking about this issue, and another woman was thrilled to see us with this message – she and her daughter are trying to be vegan. We’ll be back next year!
—Darina Smith, 7/25/10

This weekend at TAFA, I decided that I’ve been hearing from enough people who have gone veg as a result of our work that I’m going to start taking pics of them. Tae and Jeff (above) went veg after Tae got an Even If You Like Meat at Rutgers in ’06. Judy (right) was leafleted by Kath Rogers over two years back. Judy went veg, got active in outreach, played a big role in getting the CA Democratic Party to endorse Prop 2, and was a big signature gatherer for that winning ballot initiative.
     In short, we’re not only creating new vegetarians and vegans, but new activists as well. We should continue to be so proud of the results-heavy work we are doing on behalf of animals.
—Jon Camp, 7/27/10

 

My husband and I leafleted the local Lilith Fair stop. Here are a few of our favorite interactions:
     “I already went vegetarian because of that,” pointing to leaflet.
     “God bless you for doing this work.”
     A girl took a leaflet from me and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll go over this with my friends.” Turns to friends, “C’mon you carnivores!”
     At one point, a tiny girl pushed through the crowd yelling, “I want it! I want to help animals!” She grabbed a brochure from me, and then hit up Anthony (at right) for one, too.
     One of the parking attendants took a long time reading the brochure. She was disturbed by what she saw, and talked with Anthony for a long time about how to make a change that her family wouldn’t oppose (full report here).
—Caitlin Sorge, 8/2/10

Amber Coon undermines agribusiness’ attempt to hide the truth.

It rained on and off the entire time Casey and I were at the Dallas Warped Tour stop, but we still reached nearly 3,000 people. We heard from people who had gotten the booklets in the past, and they told us how it changed them.
     I met one girl who said that she still eats meat (chicken in particular), but told me not to worry – she is a member of (another animal group) because she is opposed to animal testing. She said that she thinks meat is OK because Jesus said that this is what animals were made for. I replied that I am unaware of Jesus ever saying that it is OK to torture animals. She said that she is not torturing animals. I replied that we are hiring other people to do it on our behalf. She then said that she can’t give meat up because it tastes too good. But after further conversation, she took a Guide and promised she would now try to go vegetarian.
—Eugene Khutoryansky, 7/3/10

Very light foot traffic at Chaffey College yesterday, but I met four vegans in the first 20 minutes – two of whom are eager to do something about this issue. Then a young man came back asking where he could get the Boca burgers pictured in the leaflet. Then a security guard informed me that he’s cut back on his consumption because of a leaflet from last semester.
     Many hugs and high fives at Pasadena City College today, where I reached over 1,000 students! Reception rate was whoa! One girl was traumatized by the booklet and is now veg. Another opted to skip the leaflet – can’t handle the pictures – and went veg on the spot.
—Nikki Benoit, 7/7/10

Some animals can stand up for themselves!

It was a great honor to leaflet with Joe on his 39th birthday. We leafleted the summer session at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The reception rate is always quite low at UW, but we’ve heard enough conversion stories from there throughout the years to know that our time leafleting UW is time well spent. A number of people thanked us for being there, and we handed out a lot of Guides. One young man came up to say that Even If You Like Meat was the most tasteful booklet on the subject he had ever seen. He said that by asking people to simply cut their meat consumption, it makes them not feel on the defensive while simultaneously compelling them to make changes to help animals.
—Jon Camp, 6/29/10

Such great interactions at the farmers’ market today! One of the women who came up to thank me said it was a VO pamphlet she’d gotten years ago at a concert that made her go vegan. Another person was very interested and wanted a booklet to show his coworkers. A couple was eager to get involved; I gave them an AML and my email so we can leaflet together.
—Barbara Bear, 7/10/10

 

Nikki Benoit (above) and six-year-old Rebecca Solomon (below) help the students of Cal State Northridge make informed choices.

Lots of Future Farmers of America at Purdue today. Five times I was given the opportunity to speak with groups of the FFA kids. The usual untruths were offered in defense of animal agriculture. I spoke to each issue in turn, but kept bringing it back to the fact that producing and eating meat, milk and eggs are not necessary and cause immense animal suffering for our own pleasure. On the flip side, heard from five vegetarians, one an FFA student who quietly, away from her peers, let me know she’s vegetarian.
—Joe Espinosa, 6/15/10

Very powerful conversations at Cal State Los Angeles. Met three vegans in the first 20 minutes! One, who’s organizing many outreach events to educate church communities, invited me to speak for VO!
—Nikki Benoit (above), 7/1/10

John (Oberg) and I met many veg-friendly folks leafleting at the Phoenix Art Walk. We were joined by Emma, who is newly vegan after being leafleted by John last month!
—Jeff “Newlywed” Boghosian, 7/2/10

Good leafleting with Rob (Gilbride) and Leah (Wagner). One man said to me, “Do you think it is wrong to eat chickens?” I told him they are the most abused animal on the planet, and we discussed their lives and the high numbers consumed. He said, “Someone told me that if you watch Food, Inc. you won’t want to eat chicken anymore.” I have heard a lot of comments from folks going veg after watching Food, Inc. despite the lack of a veg message in the film. It’s encouraging to see that many people do in fact connect the dots without us explicitly saying to go veg. That’s why brochures like Even If You Like Meat and Compassionate Choices are so valuable in my opinion.
—Eleni Vlachos, 7/3/10

While tabling at the farmers’ market, one woman in her 70s took materials to share with the “less enlightened.” She told me she confronted one of the natural chicken farmers at the market today, asking him how old his chickens are when they’re slaughtered. He told her 10 weeks, but that they have a great quality of life for those weeks – to which this sweet little old lady replied, “How would you like it if you were allowed to live a great life for ten years and then I chopped off your head?”
—Todd Lent, 7/3/10

New vegan Angie (Hammond) and I had great conversations at the farmers’ market. We met at least 15 vegans. One woman took information about getting active with VO!
—Barbara Bear, 7/3/10

At the Las Cruces Warped stop, Phil (Letten) offered a booklet to a couple who responded, “No thanks, we already got one today, and I think we’ll probably go vegetarian now.”
—Nick Cooney (at right, leafleting the NM Warped Tour concert), 6/30/10

Leafleting at Truman College, one guy told me that it might be hypocritical to tell others how to live if I wasn’t perfect. I let him know that none of our booklets say, “This is how you should live”; nor do they state that we are perfect. Rather, they simply let people know of a cause of suffering in today’s world; the recipients of the booklet can then do what they want with this information. Not being perfect doesn’t bar us from trying to do what good we can.
—Jon Camp, 6/28/10

 

Another ISU student learns the truth from Kasey Ball.

What a great weekend of outreach! Last night, we reached over a thousand people attending a rock festival, and today we leafleted Baltimore Pride Fest. The crowd was amazingly receptive and we had many great conversations about animals this weekend. A woman today said she has been trying to shift towards a vegetarian diet, and referring to a VO leaflet, said, “This looks like it will help me a lot.” No doubt there are more vegetarians today than there were yesterday!
—The Animal Awareness Project, 6/20/10

After reading your booklet, I want to become completely vegan.
—AG, 6/25/10

I received a Compassionate Choices booklet from a woman in Bryant Park, New York City. After reading about the cruelty to animals in the slaughterhouses, I now refuse to consume any animals ever again. Thanks!
—JM, 7/6/10

I was at the Warped Tour and people were handing out booklets. I took one and decided to take a look at it. After reading it, I wanted to learn more – please send me a Guide.
—SB, 6/29/10

Jamie Rivet and crew take the animals’ message to the streets of Toronto.

I just wanted to express how much I appreciate the Vegan Outreach site.… While I appreciate (another group’s) goals, their all-or-nothing tone always left me feeling guilty and discouraged. Vegan Outreach is the first vegan advocacy and information site that I’ve seen that makes me feel good about my recent decision to drop meat and fowl and explore new foods and cooking methods. Kudos for making a convincing case for veganism without making people feel selfish and evil if they don’t get to 100% immediately!
—SQ, 8/6/10

A good use of time at Northwestern University. One young woman came up to tell me that the booklet was very enlightening and that the not-all-or-nothing approach made her realize that even if she didn’t go completely veg, she should still make changes.
—Jon Camp, 6/21/10

In my short time at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I heard from well over 20 vegetarians and four vegans, a sign that we’re doing our job in Chicago.
—Joe Espinosa (at right), 6/10/10

A sparse summer crowd at Arizona State, but some groups of high school students were walking around. I overheard one group talking – a girl was saying she was going to “cut out” meat, while a guy responded that although he wasn’t going vegetarian, he was going to cut way back. Also spoke to a Muslim student who seemed interested in the brochure and asked for a couple of extra.
—Jeff Boghosian, 6/7/10

Great outreach, with lots of good feedback, at Miami Dade College and Broward College. For example, I met a man who said that his teenage son and daughter had been asking to eat more veg foods at home. He was happy to get a Compassionate Choices and a Guide, and planned to share it with his wife and recommend that they eat veg meals “most of the time.”
—Linda Bower, 6/10/10

Jenell Holden makes sure the students at Harold Washington College have a chance to make informed decisions.

Good leafleting at Taste of Brunswick. A teenager who took a leaflet came back later to ask how he could get more information. I directed him to the website, and he thanked me for giving him the leaflet. An old man came up to me to see what I was handing out. He opened it and said, “Ya know, so many problems happen in the world because not enough people are paying attention. We all need to be more aware of things like this.”
—Lana Smithson, 6/19/10

It was an exhausting day in the blazing sun leafleting the Phish concert, but totally worth it. Many commendations of our effort and was told frequently that we’re doing great work. Best comment of the day: A woman showed an Even If You Like Meat to her 5-to-6-year-old son, who pointed to a picture and asked, “What’s that?” His mother replied, “That’s a pig in there. That’s why mommy and daddy don’t eat meat.”
—Todd Lent, 6/19/10

 

Laura Hart (above) and Todd Lent (below) take the animals’ case to the students at SUNY Albany.

During MFA’s leafleting this evening, one guy came over to talk to me after reading the Compassionate Choices. He said he recently read JSF’s Eating Animals and saw Food, Inc. and stopped eating meat. Now he is interested in becoming vegan and was happy to see us there because he had so many questions about what to eat and how to be veg. He told me, “The thing is, I’m just a regular guy, but I don’t want animals to suffer.” We talked for a couple minutes and he took a Guide and my card in case he has more questions. Talk about being in the right place at the right time! One of the great things about leafleting is being there when someone is ready like that.
—Leslie Patterson, 6/9/10

Exhausting but awesome day of outreach at UC Davis, where Matt (Zavortink), Theo (Summer), and I reached over 1,500 students. A woman told us that nine years ago, her brother had brought home a VO pamphlet he’d gotten at UC Davis, and she’s been veg ever since. She told us it was really nostalgic seeing one of our leaflets.
—Brian Grupe, 6/1/10

Plenty of interest in vegan meal ideas at Hollywood Beach today. When people ask me, “So what do you eat?” I like to say, “What do you eat?” and then give them the vegan version of all their meals!
—Linda Bower, 5/30/10

I only had a few minutes, but Nick (Kuiper) and I were able to hand out a quick 101 booklets at the Art Walk. The most interesting interaction was when I gave the brochure to two girls, one of whom was non-veg and dropped the brochure. The other girl, a vegetarian, picked it back up and pleaded with her friend to read it, saying, “This is why I’m vegetarian!” Then I met someone who said they went veg after reading the brochure!
—Jeff Boghosian, 6/5/10

The students at Corvallis High School were very receptive. One guy told me that they watched Food, Inc. in his health class. Another came over and asked for a few for friends. I saw the students standing around reading the booklets. Met four kids who were either vegetarian or almost vegetarian.
—Nettie Schwager, 6/10/10

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students have their lives changed by Jenn Adams.

Heard from ten vegetarians and five vegans at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Also heard from three people who stated that getting the booklet in the past had moved them to decrease their meat consumption. I seized the opportunity to point out that dropping smaller animals from their diets such as fishes and chickens would spare more animals from suffering and death compared to larger animals.
     The school was prominently advertising the new vegan falafel burger available on a bun, in a pita, or in a lettuce wrap, as well as Amy’s dishes. The student group has done a good job here of getting good vegan foods made available and well announced to the students.
—Joe Espinosa, 6/8/10

Paula von der Lancken creates more change at Hudson Valley Community College.

Tabling at Sapperton Day was fabulous! We handed out almost all of the Why Vegan? and Even If You Like Meat booklets you sent. We had great conversations with many, many people about veganism and making compassionate choices. There was a group of teenage girls that I spoke to for some time. One of them was vegetarian, and her friends suddenly seemed to understand. One was almost in tears after looking through the Why Vegan? booklet, but in a good way, as if she was enlightened and knew it was her calling to make a change in her lifestyle.
     The funniest was this older man who kept cracking all these meat jokes (not vegan friendly) to a staff person at the shop; after I approached him and said, “Hello!” he said, “You’re vegan? You look healthy!” as if to say all the vegans he has ever met before have been malnourished. He kept making fun of us being vegan, and so we went into details of factory farming, and in the end he ended up asking if he could read Why Vegan? It was a great day!
—Jennifer Jamal, Karmavore, 6/13/10

Erin (Marion) rocked the Indianapolis Pride Festival this weekend! It’s exciting to see more and more outreach springing up and taking hold in different metropolitan regions. What kudzu is to the south, Vegan Outreach is to North America – pervasive, quickly spreading, and impossible to control. But unlike kudzu, we are welcomed by residents with open arms, and not sprayed at with herbicides. Vegan Outreach: The invasive species you’ll learn to love.
—Jon Camp, 6/12/10

 

Emma Chait enlightens another student at McGill University.

Our event went really well! A few friends and I ended up passing out the whole lot of booklets in four days.
    Vegan Outreach changed my life many years ago and I can’t imagine what I’d be like if I hadn’t received the Why Vegan?
—WG, 7/17/10

While strolling in Chicago, I accepted a booklet from one of your volunteers. Now I’m determined to go vegan!
—PP, 7/5/10

Good leafleting while people waited for the Memorial Day Parade. When the parade ended I gave a leaflet to Miss Maine USA and to Miss Maine Teen USA.
—Lana Smithson, 5/31/10

Wednesday was a nice sunny day at Cabrillo College. I was well received and had pleasant conversations. A number of people exclaimed that they would read the brochure / check it out. One guy had a really cool shirt, so I asked him about it. We chatted for a second and he said he had gotten a leaflet earlier and is vegan and has been for six years. If I hadn’t said anything, I never would have found this out. Makes you wonder how many silent vegans / vegetarians are walking around out there right now.
     I thought of this today while Theo Summer and I were leafleting local high schools. During a slow period, I asked a young lady who I had seen reading the brochure what she thought about it. She informed me she’d been vegetarian since age six. Later, a young lady standing by idly asked Theo about our organization, then informed him she was a vegetarian trying to go vegan and that her two older sisters were vegan. Several students mentioned having seen Food, Inc. A whole slew of students sat around reading the leaflets.
—Brian Grupe, 5/28/10

A great showing for the first ever Toronto Veggie Pride Parade today! A number of us handed out VO booklets to the many onlookers (example at right).
—Alex Greenwood, 6/5/10

Productive weekend leafleting the young people in the French Quarter for the long weekend. Got good feedback; e.g., one group of four teenagers began looking at the Compassionate Choices and discussing it right in front of me, one of the girls saying, “See? That's what they do to them!” Another girl from the group told me that she had tried to be a vegetarian once; we had a good conversation, and she also got a Guide.
—Twila Hoyle, 5/29/10

Outreach for Animals Week was a huge success, as we recruited five new leafleters and reached seven new schools. All ten public high schools in Portland have been leafleted this year now, and we’re going to expand to other school districts.
—Yvonne LeGrice, 6/1/10

Leslie Patterson takes the animals’ case to Chicago’s Takin’ It to the Streets Urban International Festival.

Great outreach at Ohio State, where Joe (Espinosa) and I reached nearly 1,000 students. Lots of ag students were very worked up, saying we are destroying their business. We did our best
to keep it on topic with how our choices can prevent suffering and not get too tied up with these students, since lots of other students there seemed open to rejecting animal abuse.
—Leslie Patterson (at right), 6/1/10

John Oberg and I had great success leafleting the Phoenix Immigration March. The acceptance rate was very high; many people even came over to get one! I met many vegetarians and vegans, especially many Hispanic vegetarians, which I was very glad to see. One woman stopped briefly to chat, and is really ready to make a change. I also ran into a group of Vegan Outreach supporters from a nearby town! I was really happy with this event because it was by far our best outreach to the Hispanic community yet.
—Jeff Boghosian, 5/29/10

 

The Humane League and Animal Awareness Project hit the road to cover Warped Tour stops in AZ, CA, and NM! You can support their work here.

Leafleting at the beach was great today! Four teenage girls eagerly received their booklets:
     Girl #1: “Ugh, I can’t look at these pictures!”
     Girl #2 (to me): “Are you vegetarian?”
     Me: “Yes.”
     Girl #4: “What do you eat?”
     Me (while giving them Guides): “Everything other than our animal friends – easiest thing I’ve ever done!”
     Girl #1: “That’s it! Let’s do it! I can’t look at these pictures…I need to go vegetarian. Seriously, let’s do it! Now! Done.”
     Girls #2–4: “Okay; Okay; Done!”
—Nikki Benoit, 5/29/10

Estafani joined me at City College of San Francisco today. It was a Vegan Outreach pamphlet over two years ago that prompted her to go veg. She’s a great leafleter and her acceptance rate was awesome. Together, we reached 654 students despite the wind and rain. Lots of great conversations, too!
—Brian Grupe, 5/19/10

Team Triangle and friends were out leafleting the annual Animal Protection Society walk. As walkers crossed the finish line, we congratulated them with the hopefully life-changing award of a Compassionate Choices. Many people were happy we were making this connection.
—Eleni Vlachos, 5/22/10

A Montana State student studies the case for compassion after getting a booklet from Bonnie Goodman.

I left Steger under cover of darkness so I could get to Wright State University by 7:30am. The sixth person I offered a booklet to let me know that getting an Even If You Like Meat in the past is what moved her to become vegan. She had not gotten a Guide, so I gave her one. Heard from many other vegans / vegetarians.
—Joe Espinosa, 5/26/10

Good day of leafleting at the University of Oregon. Some students accepted booklets saying, “Yes, I love animals.” After leafleting for a while, I saw that right across the street was a booth that advertised vegan food. He had sold out of vegan burgers, saying that a lot of people had been buying them. So I bought a pita with hummus.
—Cobie deLespinasse, 5/28/10

At the Taylor Swift concert, I met one person who told me that the Why Vegan? pamphlet is what caused them to go vegetarian two years ago.
—Eugene Khutoryansky, 5/27/10

Anna Hasenmueller takes the animals’ message to the students of Middle Tennessee State.

Colin, Ron, and I had good acceptance at Jefferson High School. A number of people said they were upset by what they saw. One guy said, “Yeah, but what can you do?” I told him and his friends they could reduce their consumption of factory farmed animals; they seemed willing to think about this. One teacher took one and said that since we (the leafleters) all looked so healthy, that maybe there was something to this that he should look into.
—Yvonne LeGrice, 5/27/10

Jane and I got good feedback at the University of Cincinnati, with people stopping to say they were moved by the booklet. One person pointed out their vegan lunch, and another said she would probably go veg as a result of getting the booklet.
—Jon Camp, 5/28/10

 

Cassandra Callaghan works for the animals at Fordham University.

Reached 300 people at the Missouri City 4th of July fireworks. Right after I gave out my very first Why Vegan? for the evening, the person said that this pamphlet is the reason she is now a vegetarian.
—Eugene Khutoryansky, 7/4/10

Solano Community College really blew me away – so many positive interactions. One example: I ran into a guy I had spoken with on my last visit. Since then, he had really changed his diet. It was a moment of true zen for me to see such results and positive energy right before me.
     I also set a new record at Napa Valley College today.
     Leafleting the 30 Seconds to Mars concert earlier, I met a woman who has been veg for two years since getting one of our booklets at a Nine Inch Nails concert; she was grateful for a Guide.
—Brian Grupe, 5/18/10

Good reception at Governors State University. One professor even asked me to give her 30 to hand out to her ethics class!
—Jesse Trombley, 5/20/10

I wasn’t in a leafleting mood today, but once I got to the farmers’ market and started in, I had a great time. Met about 15 vegans and a lot of vegetarians as well. A number of people thanked me for being there. One woman asked for an extra Compassionate Choices for her sister, another asked for one to send to a friend in Florida, and a man asked for four extras for a teacher who had recently shown her class Food, Inc.
—Barbara Bear, 5/22/10

Around 700–800 people came to this year’s New Orleans Veggie Fest, despite torrential rain in the morning and flooding (above). People took at least 1,000 VO booklets, and we sold a number of Animal Activist's Handbooks. It was really great finally meeting Jack Norris, and leafleting in the rain the day before the Fest with Jack, Jane Velez-Mitchell, and fellow VO leafleter John Sakars (who took the picture of us, below).
—Twila Hoyle, 5/16/10

Mostly teenage girls at the concert today. If one girl took a pamphlet, her friends suddenly wanted copies, too. I heard many comments like “Let me see that” and “Ohh, look at the pig!” Favorite moment:
     Me: “Info on helping animals?”
     Mom takes booklet and immediately hands it to her teenage daughter.
     Girl: Looks at the cover and exclaims, “I want to help animals!”
—Julie Rothman, 5/22/10

Well over 1,000 today at Ohio University, where I heard from well over 20 vegetarians and four vegans. One of the last booklets offered was to a trio of students, one of whom remarked to her friends that they should take the booklet as it was what moved her to become vegetarian last year. Her friends did take booklets.
—Joe Espinosa, 5/18/10

 

Jo DeGeorge brightens the world at Fordham University.

Today at the University of Minnesota – Duluth was a great way to end a month on the road. The first vegan I met was so excited to get a Guide, she later returned with another vegan friend who also wanted one. One woman had just stopped eating meat a week ago after watching The Cove. After reading Even If You Like Meat, she had a lot of questions about what it meant to be vegan and how to do it. One of the building maintenance guys came over to see what I was handing out. When I told him it was a brochure about factory farming he said, “Oh yeah, that stuff is horrible.” He said he had watched Food, Inc. and King Corn recently. He said, “I’ll definitely look through this and take it into consideration.”
     I then spoke with a former vegetarian. She said after reading Even If, she thought she would have to get back on track and stop eating meat again. One guy said after watching Food, Inc., he couldn’t finish the bag of Tyson chicken wings in his freezer. I explained that Tyson was not alone in the way it raised chickens. He said he would look through the information.
     Finally, a number of people referenced this story, which was above-the-fold front-page news: nearly 10% of the student population had already signed a petition for a more vegan-friendly cafeteria! Duluth!
—Fred Tyler, 5/6/10

Met a number of vegans and vegetarians at San Diego City College. A new veggie was super stoked for his Guide and A Meaningful Life. Met a young man that went veg last year after receiving a VO brochure (yay Brianne!). He so got a Guide/AML package, and a Guide for his doe-eyed friend hanging on every word. Met another young man who is fired up to do whatever it takes to stop the madness – he also got the same Guide/AML package.
—Nikki Benoit, 5/13/10

I had a great discussion with a guy at St. Mary’s College who had recently run into a friend who had turned veg. He got a copy of all the booklets, and he told me that meeting me and our discussion must be some kind of sign; I’m sure he’ll be changing his diet.
     Later, a guy with a messy, animal product laden sandwich took a leaflet and then proceeded to the nearest trash can, not to throw out the leaflet, but to throw out the remainder of his sandwich!
     Then, a woman informed me I had stopped her from getting a turkey sandwich and she was grateful for the information. She happily accepted a Guide.
—Brian Grupe, 5/10/10

After getting a booklet from Erik Marcus, a De Anza College student is engrossed in learning the truth.

A beautiful day leafleting in the city with my fabulous daughter, Riley, and the equally fabulous Blythe. A CTA worker had come out and said that Riley was standing a bit too close to the entrance, but because she was so tiny that he said it would be OK. He got a leaflet and came back later to say that he had no idea that this is where most meat comes from and that “this might just turn me into a vegetarian.” Proud Poppa doesn’t begin to describe how I felt!
—Mikael Nielsen, 5/15/10

Met a large number of vegans and vegetarians, with lots of good conversations at Monash University (Australia). One guy threw everything at me (leather, PETA, indigenous people, etc.). Giving up on trying to find reasons to dislike me, he said he’d take it, and read it. I managed to break through the defenses! Next, I met a woman who wants to interview me for an environmental radio program.
     Also met a girl who had been vegan for just two weeks, and earlier in the day was feeling tempted to have mayonnaise on a Japanese pancake. I think the booklet strengthened her resolve. Rounded the day off with a chat about the cruelty of dairy farming, with a girl who was shocked by the cruelty when she had previously worked on a dairy farm.
—Roy Taylor, 5/10/10

 

Aaron Ross of AAP reaches out to another Virginia Tech student.

I got your booklet and I will never eat meat, eggs, or dairy again! I gave it to a friend, and she is giving up meat.
—CB, 6/17/10

Great day at Fresno State – lots of positive interactions. A young lady walked by me with her friend reading an Even If You Like Meat. I thanked her for taking the time to read it and she said she hasn’t been able to put it down and had been literally sick to her stomach since opening it up. Got a high five and a few thank you’s and good for you’s today, which is always nice.
     A number of people here (and elsewhere recently) mentioned doing a report or presentation on the subject of farmed animal cruelty. My interactions with them have been great, and nearly all accepted Guides.
—Brian Grupe, 5/7/10

Freezing day, but students were very receptive at the New York City College of Technology. Many students doubled back to get leaflets after seeing others take them, and a bunch asked for extras to give to friends. Some said they read it after getting it from another student, and I heard many say to their friends, “Take that, you have to read it.” One student stopped to say, “You gave me that last year and I stopped eating meat for a month, but then I lost motivation. Now I’m going to go vegetarian again.” She was grateful to receive a Guide.
—Eileen Botti, 5/10/10

Marguerite Campbell invites a Fordham University student to consider compassionate choices.

I’ve never seen so many middle school, high school, and college-age students at the Art Walk before. It was Nicky’s first time leafleting, and he did great, with lots of long, productive conversations. We met a few people interested in vegetarianism, a few former vegetarians that seemed interested in going back, and met two kids who went vegetarian after recently receiving a booklet.
—Jeff Boghosian, 5/7/10

One girl at William Paterson today said she had been wanting to go veg, so she got a Guide. Another two girls who are roommates said they would go veg for a week, so they got a Guide and encouragement.
—Vic Sjodin, 5/7/10

I probably subscribe to hundreds of newsletters from nonprofits (mostly animal related), but I keep looking forward to reading yours! I’ve already read many of the articles you link to, but I love reading your articles about why you do what you do and your vision for the future. I look at the world in a similarly calm, pragmatic way, and that is why this is my favorite organization. I’ve decided that I’m going to get over my meaningless fear of leafleting and start doing it regularly next semester.
     I also wanted to let you know that I use your principles (coming off as happy and kind, and not talking about purity) in my everyday life, and both of my parents have cut down significantly on their animal-product intake, and my younger sister is vegetarian and only drinks soymilk. My boyfriend hates factory farming and wants to go vegetarian eventually.
—AM, 6/16/10

 

Four out of five East Los Angeles College students prefer Compassionate Choices!

Reached nearly 1,000 students at Cal State San Bernadino and San Bernadino Valley College today. People gleefully took a leaflet – students and staff! Was thanked profusely many times for being there. Talked to a girl about starting a group at CSSB. One lady quit eating chicken on the spot: “NO MORE!” she exclaimed. She took a Guide and an AML for her daughter!
—Nikki Benoit, 5/4/10

1,150 Even If You Like Meats + 30 Guides + 4 AML + 2 CVA + 45 Primal Strips (and a partridge in a pear tree) = awesome day at Fresno City College! My brain is still mush from the seemingly millions of interactions I had today. In short, I think it’s safe to say that many people’s eating habits will be changing!
—Brian Grupe, 5/4/10

At Auraria’s Denver campus, I saw many, many people reading the brochures, individually and in groups – that’s what it’s all about. I had a lot of great conversations with people who were open to our message and I felt like I was able to help a few people move towards a more compassionate diet. One woman told me she had gotten a brochure in the morning, but wasn’t fully convinced. Then she added, “Those pictures are horrible. My kids and I love animals; we’re really animal-lovers!” and it was obvious the wheels of cognitive dissonance were churning. She was excited to take a Guide and thanked me wholeheartedly. A woman told me she got a Compassionate Choices from me last semester and the baby chick pictures have been haunting her since then, but she is afraid to give up meat because she might not get enough protein. We had a nice long chat during which I tried to quell her fears; she seemed more resolved to go veg as she left. I met a young guy who is trying to go veg, whose girlfriend is trying to go vegan, and whose grandma has been vegan for 50 years! When the extended family gets together, his grandma insists everyone eats vegan food.
—Barbara Bear, 5/4/10

Jamie Rivet and some of the Vegan Outreach gang in Toronto!

The students at Kankakee Community College really read the booklets, and many showed surprise. I had never personally met another vegetarian in Illinois, but leafleting today, I got to meet a vegetarian and two vegans. Really uplifting.
—Jesse Trombley, 5/4/10

A woman at the College of St. Scholastica told me she couldn’t look at the pictures. I reminded her that problems generally don’t go away because we don’t think about them. She said she knew she should be vegetarian and agreed to take a Guide.
     Next, I spoke with a guy who was vegetarian and struggling with wanting to go vegan.
     Later, the first woman came back up and said she read through the Guide. She said, “It was really good information. It gave me a lot to think about. I just wanted to let you know that your trip here wasn’t in vain.” Then the guy came back, and it turned out they were friends. They decided that they would try to be vegan for one week to see how it went! They thought with support from each other they could do it.
—Fred Tyler, 5/5/10

Great day leafleting at the University of Scranton (PA). The students at this Jesuit school were very, very friendly. One student told me about a relatively new vegan eatery, Eden, just a few blocks down from campus. I went there, saw it clearly listed as a vegan restaurant and got a good meal. Two racks of literature were in the eatery – one for Why Vegan, one for the Guide to Cruelty-Free Eating. Also many stickers on the wall, including a Vegan Outreach one. It’s great to see more and more vegan eateries opening across the US – a sign of the times that we are helping to bring about.
—Jon Camp, 5/5/10

 

After getting a booklet from Nikki Benoit, a student at LA City College studies the reality so assiduously hidden by modern agribusiness.

Reached 1,087 students at three schools today. At Cypress College, I had a couple very powerful connections. One girl was still recovering from Food, Inc.; I successfully pushed her over the edge. She (with the help of her Guide) will be grazing the vegetable isles from here on out. You’re welcome, mystery girl! This is also where I got my first unsolicited-stranger-thank you-hug and “I LOVE YOU!”
—Nikki Benoit, 4/29/10

Reached over 900 students at Bakersfield College and CSU Bakersfield. I heard the word “vegetarian” a ton of times today, mostly by eavesdropping on many conversations that were sparked through leaflets. It was almost always referenced in a serious/important manner.
—Brian Grupe, 5/3/10

A really positive experience at Salem State! I had several great conversations with students, including one who seriously wanted to go veg, one wanting to go vegan, another asking about “free-range” and organic. Met two vegans and a woman who said she has been trying to start a student group for vegetarians and was encouraged to see me there. A professor stopped to thank me for “spreading this important information.” Several students commented, “Oh, we were just talking about this stuff.”
—Jo Tyler, 4/30/10

A short but productive lunchtime leafleting at Arizona State University. One student said she wanted to be vegetarian. Another student stopped to chat for a few minutes. She used to be veg in high school and was interested in going back.
—Jeff Boghosian, 5/4/10

Bryan Wilson provides enlightenment at the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival.

Better than expected day at the University of Chicago: lots of good questions and I heard from a ton of vegetarians. Some of the kids were rude or ignoring at first but I stayed cheerful and after a few hours they seemed to get more comfortable, and some took a booklet on their third or fourth pass by. One senior came back to tell me he was veg in high school but did not stick with it and has been thinking about this recently. He said getting the leaflet made him realize he was out of excuses and it was time. He was excited to receive a Guide, and came back later to thank me for being there. A staff member told me she sees the animals in the labs when she is making her deliveries and seemed to think the labs are pretty sinister. I mentioned the difference we can make for animals with our diet; she seemed to agree and accepted a Guide. One professor yelled, “Oh yes! I am totally into this!” as he took a leaflet, prompting the students behind him to take leaflets.
—Leslie Patterson, 4/30/10

 

Chuente Castañeda exposes the animals’ plight to another University of Southern California student.

Cassandra (Callaghan) and I set yet another new record, this time at St. John’s University, even though it was so windy and cold we were almost blown off the campus. We received a number of positive responses, and saw many students reading leaflets as they were walking around campus. A professor who teaches a class on social change asked for some extras to give to his class today, and we heard a student say, “We were just talking about this in my philosophy class.” Another: “This is so sad, I cried when I read it.”
—Eileen Botti, 4/28/10

At the University of Nebraska, one woman said she got a flier two years ago and still had it. She said: "It made a lasting impression. To this day, my husband still won’t look at it again."”
     At North Dakota State, one woman said, “I can’t look at that, it will make me cry.” She was happy to get a Guide. I heard her tell her friend, “That is why I don’t eat pork.” I talked with one farmer from Wyoming. When, in answer to a question, I said there was no purity as far as being vegan went, he was visibly shocked. He said I was the first AR person he had heard admit that. We talked a bit about VO’s approach. We parted on friendly terms; I think he left with a new idea about what an AR activist could be.
—Fred Tyler, 4/26/10

Robert Greene makes the animals’ case at Cosumnes River College. Below, a student at American River College gives Brian Grupe his opinion on the Even If You Like Meat message.

Really great conversation at El Camino College – I could see the light bulb go on over the guys’ heads! A young lady ran up saying, “Yes! I’m going vegan!” Met a couple other vegans, and they all got hugs – and Guides.
     At Antelope Valley College, students were very receptive – had swell conversations with them, and overheard more discussions. A few sounded interested in starting their own leafleting adventures. I also met one of the people Brianne changed in 2009. Re-converted a former veggie at Los Angeles Pierce College, and convinced at least one new person!
—Nikki Benoit, 4/27/10

Many students at Arizona State said they had already received a booklet, which is surprising, given how big the school is. I also had a couple of other short conversations with students that seemed genuinely interested. One student said she had been recently thinking about going back to eating meat, so she thanked me for giving her a reminder.
—Jeff Boghosian, 4/27/10

Leafleting Governor Crist’s local event, I handed him a leaflet. He took it, looked at the cover, then handed it to his aide. I introduced myself to her and she said she would be sure to give him the leaflet.
     I gave more leaflets to official-looking people and media people. The acceptance rate was surprisingly good. There seemed to be an awareness and an interest when they saw the cover of Even If You Like Meat. A few mentioned seeing Food, Inc. A woman walking her dog said, “I just read Skinny Bitch and I’m all over this.”
—Lana Smithson, 4/29/10

I was on the road at 11pm Monday night to make it to Western Kentucky University in time for the first Tuesday class change. Despite the rain, 1,112 students learned about how they can help stop violence. Many students were very interested in the issue; I heard from 15 vegetarians and four vegans. One of the vegetarians let me know that getting the booklet from us in the past is what moved her to stop eating meat. She had not gotten a Guide, so I gave her one.
     I used my last vacation day at the University of Kentucky, where I had my second-best school leafleting day ever – 1,560 students reached! I heard from 14 vegetarians and five vegans.
—Joe Espinosa, 4/28/10

 

Kara Kehoe gives the truth to another student at Cal State, Sacramento.

At the College of the Desert, a professor invited me to address his 70+ student class. I gave a quick introduction, and said, “Listen, even if you just cut animals out of three dinners per week, that would be a huge help for our animal friends. If you read this, please pass it on…the more people know, the quicker this insanity ends.” I then asked who wanted to read a booklet. Not hearing a peep in the room, I stepped off the stage, looked up, and half their arms were raised!
—Nikki Benoit, 4/19/10

Today was the most awesome day at Hofstra University, where Cassandra and I set a new record – 1,800 students and faculty reached! The responses were overwhelmingly positive, with dozens and dozens of people who were either vegetarian, vegan, or thinking of going vegetarian or vegan; they all got Guides. Even the teachers, administrators, security guards, etc. were psyched about getting literature!
     We overheard many conversations about veganism. Some parents on tours asked about vegan options on campus. Many had questions about nutritional info, many guys asked about how to get enough protein since they work out, etc. An athletic student asked a ton of questions about going vegan because he was doing a 30-day vegan challenge, and was very excited about getting nutritional info in the Guide. One student exclaimed to her friends, “If you saw how those animals were treated, you would throw up!”
—Eileen Botti, 4/21/10

Austin’s SXSW crowd learns about helping animals from Casey Constable.

At Saginaw Valley State University, the most memorable interaction was with two big guys. One was black, so I mentioned a few prominent African Americans who are veg (Russell Simmons, KRS, Mos Def) and also threw in some athletes (Tony Gonzalez, Carl Lewis). They both still seemed a little unwilling to never eat meat again. I mentioned that even cutting down on meat lessens a lot of suffering. One got excited and said, “I can do that!” They both walked away intently reading the leaflets.
—Phil Letten, 4/23/10

Emily, Jessica, Colin, Stephanie, and I leafleted the Acquire the Fire Christian Youth concert/rally with the new Would Jesus Eat Meat Today? leaflet from the Christian Vegetarian Association. Lots of middle school and high school kids. Here’s a sample of the comments we got: “I don't know, these days he probably wouldn’t.” “No I don't think Jesus would eat meat." "Maybe we shouldn't eat meat anymore.”
     A couple of girls who walked by said, "Hey, I’ll become a vegetarian, if you do.” “Yeah, let’s!” One girl ran to her group and shouted, “Guess what? I’m going to become a vegetarian!” Then there was a middle-aged woman who approached me and said, “Thank you for doing this!” And an adolescent boy who stopped in line and said, “Give me a high five!"
—Yvonne LeGrice, 4/24/10

At the University of Nebraska, Omaha, two people told me they were vegan, six vegetarian. After one girl took a flier, her friend said, “Don’t read that. You’ll never, never eat meat again. It’s the saddest thing.”
—Fred Tyler, 4/22/10

At the Durham Earth Day celebration, we handed out vegan chicken-salad wraps with the Compassionate Choices. To say they were a hit with the very non-veg crowd (right) is an understatement. We had people coming to our booth after hearing how good they were: “Now, WHAT are you serving here? If this ain’t chicken, what is in my mouth?” and “Where can I get these?” and “My kid doesn’t like anything…and he loves these!” and “This isn’t chicken?” When we ran out of wraps, we gave Compassionate Choices to passersby, though some were sad the wraps they’d heard about were gone. Thirty people signed up and will be getting the recipe and Vegan Outreach links. Others copied down our vegan food blog where I’ll be posting the recipe. Most asked where to get the patties (Whole Foods).
—Eleni & Rob, 4/24/10

I had many wonderful conversations at Niagara College today. Several students asked me about what I eat, and I told them that I eat a wider variety of foods as a vegan than I ever did as an omnivore. I hope my enthusiasm was contagious. Here are some quotes:
     “I used to work at a chicken processing plant,” a man said. He held up the leaflet and added, “Everything in here is completely true.”
     “Thanks for giving me that leaflet,” a student said after we got off the bus back home. “I’m a vegetarian. It was very emotional for me to read that.” I asked her if she’d ever considered veganism, and she said she was thinking about it.
     “Well, you did your job. I’m having a salad,” a lady said as she headed off to lunch.
—John Sakars, 4/23/10

 

Real change, one person at a time: Sam Vendettuol (above) and Will Schweitzer (below) help Brown University students learn what they can do to help stop violence.

Tuesday, Cassandra and I set a new record at Brooklyn College – 1,520 students reached! Countless people stopping to ask more about it, and we heard many comments expressing concern about the treatment of farmed animals. Three vegans want to work on increasing vegan options in the cafeteria. One person said, “This makes Food, Inc. look like Cinderella.” Another told me, “I get this every year, but now I think I want to try going vegan.”
     Peter joined us Wednesday at SUNY Stony Brook, and the three of us handed booklets to 2,090 people. More great feedback! One student, along with two of his group of friends, had recently pledged to go veg; they were all grateful for Guides. He said he went veg after reading our leaflet last year in the cafeteria; he had received it a few times previously but was finally convinced that day. Another friend was convinced to try vegetarianism after listening to the conversation (initially he rejected a leaflet twice).
     Marguerite, Danielle, Cassandra and I set another record today at NYU. Again, we got very positive comments.
—Eileen Botti, 4/16/10

At Iowa State University, one woman said, “The chicken stuff is HORRIBLE!” As she passed, another girl told me she didn’t eat meat. She excitedly took a Guide and said, “Actually, I read one of your fliers, and that is why I went vegetarian.”
     At the University of Nebraska, I met a guy who got an Even If You Like Meat from me 2.5 years ago. He said the information was very shocking to him and he immediately started making changes to his diet. He said he generally ate vegan, but would on rare occasions eat meat or other animal products from local farms. He said when he saw me out again, he wanted to thank me for helping to bring about such a positive change in his life. Another guy said, “That exact pamphlet was the impetus for me becoming a vegetarian.” He said he got it when I was here one year ago.
—Fred Tyler, 4/20/10

It was Spring Fling at Auraria today, and I was able to leaflet in conjunction with a vegan bake sale. The woman who organized the bake sale told me she went vegan three years ago after receiving a VO booklet on campus. One student said, “I don’t need one, I’m already veg…but give one to him” (pointing to his friend). His friend took the Compassionate Choices, and the “already veg” guy happily accepted a Guide.
—Barbara Bear, 4/21/10

At Sacramento City College, I overheard one friend to another friend after taking a booklet, “That’s why I’m vegetarian! You need to read that so you know where your food is coming from.” One guy told me that receiving a pamphlet in the past had really opened his eyes. He mentioned trying to be a good Christian and happily accepted a CVA booklet and a Guide. A young couple told me a pamphlet, coupled with seeing Food, Inc., turned them veg. They also got a Guide. I ran into a man I had talked with during my last visit. He said he had greatly reduced his consumption of meat since our initial meeting, focusing primarily on cutting out chicken.
—Brian Grupe, 4/20/10

Christine and I had so much fun at Penn State, Middletown – lots of interesting conversations. One vegan said she stopped eating meat after getting a VO booklet three years ago in Virginia.
—Barb Keith, 4/23/10

It’s been a great and very full day of outreach. This morning I gave a presentation on factory farms to the Institute of Notre Dame’s high school assembly. The Dean allowed us to give every single student in the school a Compassionate Choices, plus the faculty. The school was also offering a meat-free option at lunch and 52 students ordered a vegetarian lunch today!      Montgomery College of Rockville had its first annual Earth Day festival, which went extremely well. I handed out hundreds of VO and other leaflets, and 26 students pledged to try vegetarian for Veg Week 2010.
—Aaron Ross, 4/22/10

Johanna Andris helps another Cal Poly student apply ethics to farmed animals.

Last night, I was chatting with host and longtime Vegan Outreach member Hoss Firooznia. He was talking about how creating change isn’t always as simple as giving people facts and these individuals then deciding if the facts alone warrant making changes. Rather, individuals decide to make changes if they would accord with their already-held beliefs. People have a tough time admitting their previous way of living was wrong. So it makes sense to give them a way to change while still saving face.
     That is what I have always liked about the Vegan Outreach approach – it allows people the opportunity to make changes while still being able to save face, not forcing them to answer the big, broad questions at the very beginning. And then the changes lead to more changes; soon the originally held positions have also changed. It’s actually quite subversive.
     I saw the results of this approach today at Rochester Institute of Technology. One young woman came up to tell me that three years ago, she received an Even If You Like Meat on campus. She liked the idea of “you don’t have to be perfect” and immediately cut her meat consumption to basically nothing. She told me that since receiving the booklet, she has consumed meat three times – an average of once per year. The “not all or nothing” proposition sold her and continues to keep her on board.
     Also, a faculty member told me a story about her coworker – she once got an Even If You Like Meat and tacked it to her bulletin board for whatever reason; she continued to look at it, to make changes, and is now vegetarian.
     And Hoss was telling me about a colleague of his who had recently gone veg. He asked her what the original inspiration was; it was receiving a booklet on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – way to go, Joe!
—Jon Camp, 4/22/10

 

Peggy Koteen lets another Cal Poly student learn about how he can make a real difference.

Aleta, Cassandra, and I reached 900 students at SUNY Purchase – a new record. Great take rate and overwhelmingly positive responses in general! Some of the comments:
     “Oh man, this is the packet that made me vegetarian!”
     “Aw, this is the booklet that made me go vegetarian last year!”
     “I went vegetarian from this!”
     “I like meat but this is just so horrible!” (one student to her friend)
     A group of students Cassandra encountered said that they read the leaflets and were going to go vegetarian. She asked, “Really?” and they responded affirmatively!
—Eileen Botti, 4/12/10

Awesome day at Louisiana Tech. Highlight: two women who had lots of questions. When I saw them again later, they said they were going veg!
—Vic Sjodin, 4/15/10

Receptive group at Glen Dale Community College. One lady expressed sincere appreciation and is working towards going veg now. Another lady went veg that moment! They both got Guides.
—Nikki Benoit, 4/8/10

Friendly / supportive comments at Widener University today. One woman came back to tell me she used to be vegan but had fallen off the wagon; after reading the pamphlet she was going back to being vegan. Another guy came back to tell me that the pamphlet was really effective, and that he was definitely going to be making changes to his diet.
—Nick Cooney, 4/14/10

Four Whittier College students (beauty school dropouts?) intently study the booklets they received from Nikki Benoit.

I love you guys! I feel so good helping animals, and have helped some of my friends go vegan. Thanks for inspiring me!
—FR, 4/29/10

Reached lots of people at Indiana-Purdue University’s Earth Day. We had many good conversations with people who are really interested in changing their diet. Gretchen educated three kids about how animals are treated and killed for food. They were all ears as their mom also listened without intervening at all. I met someone who went vegan after reading the VO literature displayed at Loving Cafe. I met another girl who cut chicken out of her diet after receiving an Even If You Like Meat from me in the past.
—Heather Leughmyer, 4/14/10

At Castleton State College, I had individuals coming up to ask me for a booklet. The woman who housed me this weekend went vegan six years ago after visiting Vegan Outreach’s website. As a result, her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson are also now vegan.
—Jon Camp, 4/12/10

After receiving a booklet from Karen James, a student at the University of Hartford studies the truth about modern agribusiness.

I met a ton of vegetarians / vegans at Humboldt State, but also gave a lot of Guides to non-veg folks interested in learning more about how to change their diet. Many people stopped to chat for a minute or two today which always makes me happy because the discussions are always so positive and productive.
     Last Friday, I was joined by Rachel and Dan for a really awesome day of outreach at Seattle Pacific University. Turns out Dan went veg from a VO booklet in 2000, and now works for Sea Shepherd.
—Brian Grupe, 4/19/10

My mother-in-law works for the Kansas City Royals baseball stadium selling hot dogs and she told me today that they now serve veggie dogs and veggie burgers! Cool!
—Leah Wagner, 4/19/10

Sara and Sen joined me last week at the University of Minnesota – Minneapolis. We met a number of vegetarians / vegans. Both Sen and I had people tell us getting an Even If You Like Meat booklet in the past led them to go vegetarian.
     After she got a booklet from me in the morning, Allie came back and joined me in leafleting the University of Iowa today. Great feedback, including one woman who said she had gotten a flier in October when I was there and went vegetarian. Then about three months ago, she went vegan!
—Fred Tyler, 4/14/10

 

Aleta Markham reveals the truth to another University of Hartford student.

Such an amazing day at SUNY Albany! Overall, the acceptance rate was ~80%, and I had tons of positive responses and interactions. A sample:
     After having received one, a girl came up to me and said these booklets “are really good,” and she’s giving up all meat.
     One girl took one and told me she’d read it later because her roommate read one and it made her cry.
     A guy came up to me after having read one and said that he sat and pondered it and decided that he’s giving up meat for good. He also took a few leaflets to hand out to his earth science class.
     Someone else approached me a few minutes after having received the leaflet and said his sister is vegan and that he’s decided to make the switch. I gave him and other new veggies copies of the Guide to help them out.
     I also had a handful of lengthy conversations that proved pretty beneficial. One ended with one guy saying, “I was going to get a chicken salad for lunch, but not now.”
—Team Vegan member Todd Lent, 4/7/10

Reached 2,000 students at Virginia Tech today. One student said she went vegetarian from getting an Even If You Like Meat in the past and is now working on being vegan. Another student wanted to know how she could get active for animals, so I told her to contact VO.
—Kate and Aaron, Team Vegan members: The Animal Awareness Project, 4/5/10

Compelling! Students at the University of Maryland (above) and Southern Connecticut State University (below) learn of the animals’ plight.

Reached over 1,000 students at LA Valley College and Burbank HS. Multiple amazing conversations – many shocked faces walked back to me asking what to do. Made headway with a Christian regarding animals being here for us to “use.” A girl stopped dead in her tracks reading her Compassionate Choices – I handed her a Guide. One couple received their leaflets and the girl immediately slapped her boyfriend, holding the Even If You Like Meat in his face: “See why you need to go vegetarian??”
—Nikki Benoit, 4/7/10

Very encouraging day at the University of Southern Mississippi! One girl said she just saw Earthlings; turns out a Spanish professor had shown it at 8 AM class. I found the teacher and she let me talk to the subsequent two classes before the movie started and give out booklets. Lots of people read the pamphlets and had questions, and you could hear the sobbing during the movie. Later, while leafleting again, three girls said that the film and booklets worked – they did not eat meat for lunch and implied they would not again. I’m sure many went veg today.
—Vic Sjodin, 4/5/10

I was happy to finally hit 2,600-student Taft HS before flying out of O’Hare on a business trip. Many groups had loud reactions after seeing the content; I could detect shock and disgust. However, I was glad to be there to plant the first seeds.
—Darina Smith, 4/8/10

My friend Alison joined me at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay; she was a natural! One woman said that getting an Even If You Like Meat in the past was what made her go vegetarian. She hadn’t ordered a Guide, so she was excited to get one. A friend of hers also wanted a Guide, saying she had been vegetarian before and thought she would go back to it. One woman said, “I got one earlier. It was very interesting. I want to change my eating habits.” Maybe her new Guide will help.
—Fred Tyler, 4/1/10

At De Anza College, I handed one to a guy who was standing alone. I noticed he spent about fifteen minutes reading it, then was joined by three friends. Of these three, a girl took his copy and started reading it. Two minutes later she turned to a page and then threw the booklet on the ground in disgust, and then picked it up and resumed reading. When she finished she handed the booklet to another friend, who in turn spent several minutes reading it.
—Erik Marcus, 4/5/10

Four hundred more people learned the truth today. Had one girl say, “I’m going vegetarian right now.” That makes it all worth it!
—Camilla Kendall, 4/11/10

A University of Connecticut student has his questions answered by Julia Caruk.

Tessa, Claudine, Amanda, Bernie, and I reached over 1,300 students at the University of Washington – Seattle. The biggest highlight for me today was when a young lady turned around after walking about 20 feet and told me that she had been putting off looking into this issue because she was afraid to change even though she knew it was the right thing to do. We had about a five minute discussion (mostly her asking about how I changed my diet and issues surrounding free-range animal products) and she eagerly accepted a Guide and my contact info and walked away saying, and I quote, “You’ve just changed a life today.” Truly a moment among moments for me.
—Brian Grupe, 4/9/10

Thanks for supplying us with booklets for our Winter Tour – we reached a lot of new people! After we got the booklets, two other members of our band went vegetarian and I am now vegan.
—Ean Smith, 4/28/10

 

Allie Holaday helps another University of Connecticut student make informed choices.

At Minnesota State University – Mankato, a lot of people reported getting a booklet in the past and still having it. One guy said after getting an Even If You Like Meat last time, he bought the book Eating Animals. He was happy to get a Guide. One woman said, “It was this kind of stuff that made me go vegetarian when I was 17!” The highlight of the day was when a man came up and said, “I got one of those earlier. I just wanted to thank you for handing them out and to say I had a vegetarian lunch because of it. It was very informative. I’ve been thinking about vegetarianism lately and this was the extra push I needed.” He was glad to get a Guide.
—Fred Tyler, 3/25/10

Great day at Long Beach College! Numerous “thank yous.” An armored truck drove to me, stopped, and the driver opened the tube-shaped hole in the door asking for a leaflet!
     Was interviewed (while still leafleting) by two different students for school projects – one on free speech and the other on factory farm abuse. Explaining what happens to our animal friends in FFs knocked this guy out of his loop! He hung on every word, saying he’d go watch the videos too. After our ten minute conversation, his last question was “So what would you tell people who want to start becoming vegan?” I explained that some go right away, or others ease in by first not buying animal products so they can build up a pantry, experimenting with what they like, and just work their way into it…and of course that it’s much easier than it seems once you start doing it.
—Nikki Benoit, 4/1/10

Students at Yale (above) and University of Maryland (below) engrossed in the case for compassion.

Brutal morning at Lane Community College. Awful rain and cold, and by noon I was drenched and freezing. I met a few vegetarians including a guy who said, “Is that Vegan Outreach?” He relayed that he had been vegan but that his family had “intervened” and he wants to get back on track again. He happily accepted a Guide and AML. Students were incredibly receptive despite the weather which kept me going.
—Brian Grupe, 3/30/10

A Duke student first declined a brochure, but then returned to take one after seeing multiple students reading it, saying, “OK, I will take one!” Students recognized me from prior leafleting and at least two students said they are vegan because of the pamphlets they received last year. Go, VO!
—Rob Gilbride, 4/1/10

Reached over 400 very nice students at Northeastern Illinois University. I saw students reading the booklets and talking about them. Some asked me for a booklet after seeing others reading them. Other students came up with questions about the treatment of farmed animals and food choices.
—Leslie Patterson, 4/2/10

Heard from many vegetarians at St. Louis University today. One student told me that she received one from me last semester and because of it she and her roommate went vegetarian; I said, “All right!” and gave her a Guide. Another student said that he received a booklet from me last semester and it really changed his thinking. I asked if it also changed his eating and he said yes. He got a Guide, too.
—RH, 3/31/10

Chelsey, Ryan, Lauren, and Joe joined me today at the University of S. Alabama, and we reached over 1,600 students. One professor said she is going veg, a custodian said she was going veg to lower her cholesterol and she felt bad for chickens. One girl said, “This is the saddest thing I’ve ever read”; she got a Guide. Another girl said, “I didn’t eat meat yesterday after getting that pamphlet”; she got a Guide today. I saw lots of students reading pamphlets as they walked. One guy said the booklets are too graphic, but talking with him, he changed his tune.
—Vic Sjodin, 4/2/10

Jodie and I hit Schoolcraft College and Madonna University – a good day of outreach, with a lot of people reading the booklets. For example, at Madonna, a big group of girls walked by and all got one. They kept walking away very slowly as they all read and discussed the leaflets. All of them were very grossed out. I heard one girl say, “I’m never eating meat again.”
—Phil Letten, 4/5/10

At SUNY Plattsburgh, Darina noticed that the cafeteria had a big sign indicating that they offered a vegan selection, something I am noticing at more and more schools.
—Jon Camp, 4/5/10

Aaron Ross provides the animals a voice at Towson University.

Jenna, Shannon, Clarissa, Anna, Mark, Ellen, and I (Raiders Against Animal Cruelty) reached over 2,300 students at Middle Tennessee State University. Ran out of Guides in the first two hours – even after years of regular activism here, we still meet new vegetarians all the time! Young lady said she went veg because of a booklet last semester, and another young lady enthusiastically said she’s going veg soon. Also met a guy who wants to get involved.
—Kenny Torrella, 3/31/10

Another 1,500 students at UC Santa Barbara. One young man went past me pushing his bike with one hand and drinking water from the other hand. “I’d offer you a leaflet,” I said, “but I don’t think you’ve got a spare hand.” I definitely do have a spare hand,” he said as he shifted his glass of water to the hand pushing the bike and took a leaflet, “because the last time I got one of those, I went vegetarian.”
—Stewart Solomon, 4/5/10

 

Reagan Kimball lets a student at Bowie State know what modern agribusiness hides.

Students at my school in Baltimore (UMBC) were handing out free booklets. These shocking images and stories have really affected me!
—KH, 3/26/10

The pamphlet about animal cruelty that someone was handing out on campus strongly impacted my life. Thank you so much.
—SB, 4/2/10

I just received your Guide to Cruelty-Free Eating. It was an insightful read. I have been struggling with how to communicate to my friends and family in order to promote veganism. I realize now I was not communicating my message about veganism properly.
—BH, 4/17/10

Alene Anello and I reached over 1,800 students at the University of Massachusetts, Boston today. There were lots of people reading, asking questions, giving us support for this work. Conversation of the day:
     Man A: He loves his meat! <points at Man B>
     Man B: And I ate a salad for lunch today after reading that booklet.
—Jon Camp, 3/23/10

Studying the truth at the University of Kansas after receiving a booklet from Eva Helsel.

I felt so much more comfortable leafleting after the first couple times. By the third time I had lost the jitters. I just told myself that this is one of the most effective ways to help the animals, and I desperately want to help them, so go for it! Knowing you guys figured out what works gave me the drive.
     The Animal Activist's Handbook was a godsend. It was exactly what Nettie was saying we needed so badly: concise advice on handling the tough questions and on how to cultivate a winning demeanor, plus how to keep from despairing over the animals you cannot help.
—Laura H, 4/15/10

Very fruitful day at Auburn University, where I reached 1,950 students. Two students told me their classes discussed being veg; also heard groups walking by talking about issues, saw lots reading pamphlets, met two former vegs who said they would now go veg again. Feedback of the day: “I already got one and let me tell you, I read the whole booklet in class and I am never eating meat EVER again.”
—Vic Sjodin, 3/30/10

We reached over 2,000 students at George Mason University today. Met many vegans and vegetarians, and had great discussions with students and faculty. One student who read through an entire booklet said he was going to go vegan! Another student read the Even If You Like Meat and asked where she could find vegetarian food in the area.
—Aaron and Kate of The Animal Awareness Project, 3/24/10

Karen James provides the animals a voice at Western Connecticut State.

Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, a woman I had given a leaflet to earlier in the day came back to say she was interested in volunteering in the future. Another student was very excited to get the leaflet. He was doing a project about animal cruelty and said the Even If was exactly what he needed. A second guy said he was going to take his Even If to his Environmental Studies.
     Today at Gustavus Adolphus College, a student came to find me and said her teacher wanted me to come speak to their Philosophy of Environment class. Students seemed to like the idea that making changes to their diet didn’t require an all-or-nothing stance. Several people were interested in Guides. The professor had me stick around for the next class as well.
—Fred Tyler, 3/23/10

Some antagonism today at LA City College and LA High School, but lots of enthusiasm, too. My third leaflet catalyzed a conversation with a young man who was swept away immediately by Even If’s cover. Plans to request a Guide, and took three leaflets to hand out on the way to his car. Agrees this is all insane.
—Nikki Benoit, 3/27/10

Leslie (Patterson) and I were joined by Monica Ball and her kids, Kasey and Kassidy (right), at Illinois State. We reached over 1,400 students. Had some good conversations; e.g., a woman in her late 40s stopped to say that she was impressed with our polite efforts, rather than simply expressing our outrage in a way that would make people stop listening. She let me know that she and her five children, all boys, have reduced their consumption of meat due to her getting the booklet from me in the past. I took the opportunity to congratulate her and underline the great suffering reduction that comes from avoiding the flesh of birds and fishes, as being smaller animals and also due to those who suffer to death in production or as bycatch respectively, more of them suffer and die to feed a meat eater during the year compared to eating larger animals.
—Joe Espinosa, 3/27/10

 

Lesley Parker-Rollins promotes the animals’ message at Towson University; below, a University of Maryland student studies the truth.

My husband, a friend, and I went to dinner last night. They wanted to dispute veganism. For example they brought up how Jesus ate meat. But I remembered your bottom line; my response was, “I don’t want to fight. I don’t know about God’s reason for allowing this; the reason I am doing this is because I want to reduce suffering.” That was the end of the conversation. Your message/ focus is extremely effective.
—VN, 4/10/10

While leafleting at the Justin Bieber concert, I overheard one girl telling her friends, “This is the booklet that Scarlet and I got before, and it is what caused both of us to go vegetarian.” Later, I overheard another girl also telling her friends that she is a vegetarian because of this booklet.
—Eugene Khutoryansky, 3/21/10

At Polk State, the highlight was when a girl told me, “Oh I love you for handing those out! I am SO glad you’re here! I just had to find you to tell you that!” She gave me a hug and lamented that some of her friends and family are not at all supportive. I gave her some encouragement and an AML. I also told her a little about AAC and suggested she check out VO’s website. She said she would and then she gave me another hug.
     At the University of South Florida, a pregnant student quickly looked over the leaflet then exclaimed, “This is why I’m vegan!” It warms my heart that her child will be born into a compassionate atmosphere.
—Lana Smithson, 3/23/10

Here’s my donation. I received my tax refund today and thought you guys deserved a piece of the (vegan) pie!
—CS, 4/7/10

SAR and I reached nearly 1,500 students at Sacramento City College today. Met quite a few vegans and chatted with a number of people interested in going veg or reducing their animal product consumption. Also met two VO supporters who were excited to meet someone leafleting. Talked with a woman who had worked at a chicken factory in Arkansas. She said it was really disturbing what she saw and also very unfair to the immigrants who were hired to work in the factory. She said she worked in the “tub,” where they had to mostly clean out maggots and dirt that had accumulated during transport. She happily accepted a Guide.
—Brian Grupe, 3/17/10

High reception rate at Indiana University at South Bend, where I handed out 666 Even If You Like Meat booklets and seven Guides. Had two harm reduction conversations with students, highlighting the point that it takes about 190 chickens to make the same amount of edible flesh as just one beef steer. Also was informed by a student that there is a Facebook page for the “Help Stop Violence” guy, which apparently is me.
—Joe Espinosa, 3/23/10

At West Connecticut University, I spoke with a woman who said that her husband turned vegan as a result of the Even If You Like Meat leaflet that we handed out three weeks ago!
—Karen James, 3/23/10

Roy Taylor spends his lunch hour helping animals at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.

Reached over 400 people at Northeastern, and 300+ at MIT. At NE, one guy was new to vegetarianism and he was super-excited about the Guide. Good discussions at MIT, including a young man who came back with a vegetarian burrito to let me know that getting the booklet earlier in the day made him really confront the suffering of farmed animals, hence his vegetarian meal.
—Jon Camp, 3/17/10

Becky, our six-year-old, is on spring break this week. Monday, she came to school with me. One high schooler asked her if she was vegetarian. Then another asked why. She replied, “Because meat is made of animals.” Simple enough. Today, I offered to take her to a movie or do whatever she wanted. She wanted to go leafleting. She was incredible, holding a pack of 50 at once, running up to everyone on the walk. She reached 600 students at Cal State Northridge.
—Stewart Solomon, 3/18/10

 

Kristen Cook creates change at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.

I love the Animal Activist’s Handbook. Because of your book, I am going to promote “transition” foods, the “vegetarian meats and cheeses.” Your book helped me to remember that it wasn’t easy switching from SAD to veg, and I used all sorts of mock meats and cheeses and ice cream to transition to a whole plant foods diet. I learned much more than this from your book, especially the part about how to have conversations about this issue rather than always sharing what I know. Oh my, your book really helps me to help animals.
—HS, 3/31/10

Highlight of the day at Santa Barbara City College was when a gal came up to me and told me that after we had chatted, she had read the brochure three times and was seriously considering changing. I had already given her a Guide and two of her friends wanted Guides as well.
     At West Valley College, I chatted for a while with a gal who had been veg but stopped for health reasons. She accepted a Guide and I encouraged her to check out Jonathan Safran Foer’s book (she mentioned hearing about it). Also met a vegan who said she got teased after making a pro-veg presentation in one of her classes. I commended her on sticking with veganism and she accepted both a Guide and AML.
—Brian Grupe, 3/15/10

University of Florida students (above and below) study the case for compassion while enjoying So Delicious bars distributed by Zia Terhune, Eleni Vlachos, and Rob Gilbride.

Your work is irreplaceable for someone who wishes to live a meaningful life but also wants to be healthy and be successful in getting others to understand their own health and own ability to affect the world. I have a little extra money and, in the spirit of “every little bit counts,” would like to donate to further your work. I hope as time goes on, I can donate more. Most importantly, I hope as time goes on, we can reduce suffering further.
—PB, 4/3/10

Reached 400 students at McMaster University (Hamilton, ON) in only an hour. Reception was great – I’d say around 4/5 students took the literature. Reception is much better than even a few years ago at this location. People don’t seem to run when you say “factory farming” or “vegetarian.” Instead, they want to know.
—Andre Inglis, 3/12/10

The highlight of leafleting the Taylor Swift concert was a young teenage girl who told us she had gone vegetarian two days prior and she wanted a booklet plus more for her friends. Another woman lifted her pant leg up to reveal a giant tattoo of the vegan sunflower symbol and just smiled!
—Jennifer Mennuti, 3/7/10

Good interactions at Washington University. One of them declined a booklet, saying that he got one from me before and now he is on board; he gladly accepted a Guide. Another student had received a booklet from me in the past and said she thought it is wrong to treat animals this way. She said that she was now buying much less meat; I gave her a Guide to help her with a plant-based diet.
—Rick Hershey, 3/16/10

At Pace University, a professor asked for some extra leaflets for his class, and students stopped to talk with me and Cassandra (Callaghan). One student from a small family farm in Michigan said how much he and his family hate factory farms, etc. So although he was not vegan, he thanked me many times for spreading the word about factory farms.
—Eileen Botti, 3/17/10

At the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Aaron Ross helps another student learn the truth so assiduously hidden by modern agribusiness.

I met eight vegans and more vegetarians today at Arkansas State; last time, I only met one vegetarian. Two people said they went veg from getting a leaflet last year! Had talks with dozens of people, saw many reading and walking with pamphlets open. So happy there were some progressive elements on campus today, since last time around Ark was a black hole devoid of compassion and vegetarians. We’re making progress one day, one leaflet, one conversation, once convert at a time. I LOVE IT.
—Vic Sjodin, 3/16/10

I love the Animal Activist’s Handbook – can’t put it down. It goes where I go. I think I found my Dharma. I guess when the student is ready the teacher will appear. Not sure what took so long.
—HP, 3/29/10

Daniel Earle helps an Eastern Michigan University student learn the truth; below, another EMU student studies a booklet received from Leah Wagner.

 

Written to Nikki Benoit:
Do you think I could join you the next time you leaflet in my area? I’ve never done it before, but truth be told, I became vegetarian five years ago because a girl in my class gave me a Why Vegan? when I asked her about her lifestyle. Now a vegan, I’m interested in activism.
—AT, 3/23/10

Written to Jon Camp:
I just read your profile and wanted to let you know that I became vegan after you handed me a pamphlet while I was a student at the College of New Jersey in 2006. I have since graduated but I continue to be a vegan. You changed my life and I hope you continue to leaflet campuses around the country. Job well done.
—BR, 3/10/10

I know working for a nonprofit can be an unrewarding job, so I wanted to let you know that your Guide to Cruelty-Free Eating is really amazing. It totally changed the way my wife and I look at the world.
—BR, 3/26/10

At Polk State College, an animal science student sat at a bench and read the leaflet. When she left she thanked me for the information. I saw others reading it as well. A student said receiving the leaflet was timely because animal cruelty is the current subject in her ethics class.
     I also heard the following comments today:
     “Now I won’t be able to eat my lunch!”
     “Oh Lord…” (then the student seemed speechless).
     “This is so relevant!”
—Lana Smithson, 3/11/10

Darina Smith reaches the incoming students at Roberto Clemente High School in Chicago.

Many students at the University of Illinois, Chicago reported having gotten the booklet in the past, and one came up to let me know that getting the booklet from me two years ago is what moved him to go vegetarian. He had not gotten a Guide, so I gave him one. I overheard another trio of students talking after one took the booklet and stated that this was the booklet that moved her other friend to become vegetarian.
—Joe Espinosa, 3/11/10

Leafleting the University of Colorado in the evening, one woman refused a Compassionate Choices, saying, “I like my greasy chicken.” I told her she could eat less meat and still help that way. I asked if she had tried the veggie chickun at a local Chinese restaurant, then showed her the website address I had jotted on the back for vegan dining options in Boulder and Denver. Suddenly she changed her tune and said she had been trying to eat less meat and was happy to get the Guide!
—Barbara Bear, 3/9/10

Kate St. John makes the animals’ case at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Reached over 1,000 people at UC Santa Barbara. I met two people who are vegan for Lent. One guy said it’s his second time doing it, and after last time, he remained basically vegetarian/ vegan for the rest of the year. He was glad to get a Guide, and I encouraged him to try and stay with it again after Lent.
—Brian Grupe, 3/8/10

I had mostly positive responses at Rowan and more than a 90% take rate! A few students who were interested in going veg took Guides, and I had some positive experiences talking to a few small groups of students who were standing around and asking me about the booklets. One vegetarian wanted to know if there was a group on campus, so I explained to him about getting involved with VO leafleting.
     I was in town visiting my grandma, who took me out to dinner, asking, “So I hear this vegan thing is pretty popular now, huh?” Awesome!
—Eileen Botti, 3/10/10

 

Michele McCowan helps a Montana State student see the light in Bozeman; below, another MSU student studies a booklet received from Bonnie Goodman.

Thursday was Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology’s induction day for new students – all student clubs had information stalls and there were bands playing. We distributed 550 Aussie Why Vegans. The following day I returned to the university during my lunchtime from work. While leafleting, I had three long conversations with people who had received leaflets the day before, and had questions about iron, calcium, factory farming, dairy, etc. I also met someone who wanted to start leafleting at another university – so although relatively few leaflets were given out, it was a good day.
     The Melbourne University group did a stall on the same day, and someone reported they had received a Why Vegan the previous year, and they had since gone vegetarian.
—Roy Taylor, 2/26/10

Good audience at the art gallery street fair in Kansas City. My husband said he saw everybody looking at their booklet right away! One of our last booklets went to a woman who was very happy to get the info: “Oh, thank you! I have been wanting to learn about this!”
—Leah Wagner, 3/6/10

Students were very receptive at Morgan State Wednesday. One student came back and said, “I couldn’t eat my damn sandwich ’cause of you!”
     Today was a brief but awesome day at Coppin State. At least 90% of students walking by took a leaflet. One student who read an Even If You Like Meat said he gave it to his teacher and the teacher discussed it with the whole class today!
—Aaron Ross, 3/5/10

Two good small schools today – Cuesta College and Allan Hancock College. The second person I leafleted at Cuesta was vegan and eagerly took more info. A gal came back asking for another pamphlet. I asked her if she was interested in a guide or if she was veg (trying to figure out why she wanted it). She said she didn’t eat pork or beef but had no idea chickens had it so bad and was ready to go veg. She was excited to receive a Guide.
—Brian Grupe, 3/9/10

Good day at Santa Ana College. One girl said to me in the presence of her group of friends, “Hey, you guys made me go vegetarian!” All her friends took a leaflet. Another fella who worked for the school paper said, “Animal Liberation? Yes! I support this totally!”
—Brianne Donaldson, 3/8/10

Vic Sjodin connects with a student at Florida International University.

Jovan, Eva, Mark, and I had a good night by DePaul University. One woman stopped and said she loved meat. I told her I did too, but that when I examined my morals and values they did not match up with my actions and therefore I stopped. I also suggested that she give up meat on Mon/Wed/Fri and see how that went. She seemed like she would totally give it a try. I had another person stop to tell me that eight months ago it was one of our leaflets that helped her go veg.
—Mikael Nielsen, 3/3/10

I’ve been corresponding these last few days with a student from Quinnipiac U who wrote to Vegan Outreach about getting active for animals. I mentioned that I had recently leafleted Quinnipiac and the student responded by thanking me, as it was receiving a booklet last week that made her decide to go vegetarian and want to get active. In short, this stuff works!
—Jon Camp, 3/8/10

 

A University of North Florida student studies the truth she received from Rob Gilbride.

I received your Compassionate Choices at Texas Tech. After reading it, I made the decision to eat less meat and more vegan food.
     I note in your booklet that the objective is “to reduce suffering, not to achieve personal purity or perfection.” Very good! May we all do our best towards that goal.
—LM, 3/6/10

Lots of interest, questions, and grossed-out faces as my classmates read the VO booklets after my presentation in Speech class. The teacher said he was going to try to go vegetarian!
—Ellen Green, 3/9/10

I passed a semi trailer full of pigs on my way to leaflet at Purdue today. I promised them I would brave the cold until I got every leaflet out. It was nothing compared to how cold they must have been riding down the highway at 60+ mph. I reached 370 students, gave 30 booklets to an animal and ethics professor who will be handing them out to her class, and 50 more were then dropped off at the local vegan restaurant because they had run out. I got an email address from one vegan who was interested in doing more, and one guy told me he appreciated what I was doing. Another lady said she was starting to think a lot more about where her food was coming from and was glad to get a leaflet. One guy asked if I was against Michael Vick. I told him that what Vick did was no worse than what factory farmers and slaughterhouse workers do to animals every single day.
—Heather Leughmyer, 2/24/10

There was rain, slush, and snow at the University of Idaho. Even after two pairs of socks, under armor, gloves, jackets, sweaters, etc., I was still cold! Props to my east coast homies who rock the crazy weather so often.
     I met one gal who proudly showed me her “VEGAN” sweatshirt she was wearing, and met another vegetarian of six years who thanked me for spreading the good word. Right before I left I had a really productive chat with an Ag Science student. I told him that I personally couldn’t kill an animal, so it didn’t matter how “humanely” it was raised, if I couldn’t kill it myself I wasn’t about to pay anybody else to do it. I also said that simply because we CAN do something doesn’t make it right. Interestingly enough, he had never thought of it this way. I was glad I was able to challenge his current moral outlook, and we left the conversation with a hearty handshake.
—Brian Grupe (right, in warmer days), 2/24/10

I broke my old leafleting record today, as Leah (Wagner) and I reached over 2,000 students at the University of Kansas. We also encountered a lot of vegetarians, and found well-labeled vegan options at the cafeteria!
—Eva Helsel, 3/1/10

Ashley (Delk) and I had great conversations at Trevecca Nazarene University. Met a number of vegetarians, including one who changed because of a booklet. Met a young lady in an environmental class and she said they’re talking about this topic right now (just watched Food, Inc.). She was excited to get a Guide and we had a great conversation. Met some of her classmates, all great convos as well. Also met a fellow who was excited to get a booklet – he, too, talked to me about Food, Inc. Met another girl who wants to start working to get more veg options at the dining hall – I got her contact info and will be sending her something tonight.
—Kenny Torrella, 2/24/10

Leafleting the University of Colorado later in the day allowed me to reach a new crowd, including a number who were already veg. One guy said he was a vegetarian for three years at one point, but then he “got poor” and is no longer veg. I offered him a Guide and showed him the back page where it says, “Isn’t it expensive to be vegan?” as well as the recipe section. He happily accepted it.
—Barbara Bear, 3/2/10

Kathryn Farnsworth (right), Karen James, Aleta Markham, and I, along with the Yale College Student Animal Welfare Alliance, reached 2,349 students at Southern Connecticut State University and Yale today. And check this out: four separate individuals mentioned being veg or vegan because of receiving a VO booklet in the past. This stuff works!
—Jon Camp, 3/2/10

 

Kushi from VegPolytech (right) and I did a quick leafleting at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Even in that short hour, we had a big impact. A number of WPI kids read through the booklet right in front of us (below) and asked good questions about factory farming and vegetarianism. We heard from people who had been impacted by the images in the booklet and the info they read. One person said she would try going veg for a month. Another student said he would try being vegetarian for two days a week.
—Drew Wilson, 2/19/10

Written to Eleni Vlachos:
I am a student at Valdosta State and I went to your Seeing Through the Fence. You totally changed my life! While I was not one of the students asking questions at the end (probably because I was literally speechless after realizing what I’ve been putting into my body for my entire life), I took some of the Vegan Outreach brochures and started doing research. I really just want to thank you so much for inspiring me to make the best decision of my life. While I have already endured a good bit of criticism from my friends and some of my family, and it’s going to be tough as I’m a college student, I am still completely set on this goal. Thank you again!
—LS, 3/7/10

I really didn’t want to leaflet today, but if I had stayed home, a young man I spoke with today might not have begun his journey towards a more compassionate life. After looking over the booklet, he told me, “Man, that gave me some stuff to think about.” He said he didn’t realize it was so bad. He told me about his companion animals and how much he cares for them, and we both agreed that there is no reason this same care and genuine respect for life should not be extended to farm animals. Seriously, all sorts of gears and light bulbs were going off in this dude’s head, it was amazing. He happily accepted a Guide.
—Brian Grupe, 2/18/10

I was so excited to receive my box of pamphlets that I started this morning at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, even though it was starting to snow. I handed out fifty in no time flat. When I had only one left, two girls were walking along together and I handed it to one of them. As I headed toward the library to do some homework, I looked back and saw them fighting over it. It was so cute and gave me a smile for the first day of my vegan outreach!
—Faith Jackson, 2/23/10

Jon (Camp) and I rocked Northwestern University. Two journalism students also stopped by to interview and take pictures of us. I did not want to take time away from leafleting so we scheduled the interviews for another time. A high point: a guy stopped and said, “You know, I got this from you last time and I just want to thank you for doing this.”
—Leslie Patterson, 2/19/10

Brianne Donaldson reaches another Chapman University student with the animals’ message.

I think about 25% of the 900 people I reached at the University of South Florida were high school students. One student came up to me and said, “Can I have that chicken book?” She came back to me 20 minutes later. I said, “What do you think?” She said, “I’m going to oppose this cruelty.” I then gave her a Guide. I spoke to another student who read the booklet in front of me. He really liked the message of reducing animal products. He is going to reduce his consumption to eating meat one day a week.
—Rob Gilbride, 2/19/10

Good conversations while tabling at Middle Tennessee State today. One guy told us he doesn’t eat pork but couldn’t believe other animals were allowed to be treated this way, too. It definitely had an impact on him and he walked away with literature he picked up on his own. Also had an interaction with a young lady who came back to the table and asked us why we don’t work to help humans first. I talked about how human problems are very complex, but reducing animal suffering is something we can do every time we go out to eat or go to the grocery store; it’s not complicated and anyone can do it, three times a day.
—Kenny Torrella, 2/23/10

It was a very positive afternoon at Cal State Fullerton. I haven’t been out there for a while, but it feels like more and more students understand there is cruelty in the meat industry and that a vegetarian diet is a healthy, solid alternative to an omnivorous diet.
—Stewart Solomon, 2/23/10

 

After being leafleted by Michele McCowan and Bonnie Goodman (below), moviegoers in Bozeman, MT study VO booklets while waiting for a special screening of Food, Inc.

Thank you for sending me the two booklets. I am now a vegan. I am lovin’ every bit of it. My daughter is also considering being vegetarian. I feel so much better and have actually lost 6 lbs. Thank you for my new way of life!
—CH, 2/17/10

I am received better each time I leaflet Solano Community College. I remember there was some genuine hostility towards me the first time I leafleted here, and now the students really seem to be on board with the message / take it seriously. Today was also a good demonstration of how valuable outreach is at this school. Four individuals (two people on their own and one set of friends) came up to me throughout the day to ask about factory farming, saying they had NEVER seen images like this and had no idea this was going on. I had to do some damage control as one woman seemed really shaken. I made book recommendations, gave out Guides, and talked about food alternatives, trying to make the conversations more positive since many of the the people seemed upset. Fairfield is only an hour away from San Francisco, one of the most vegan-friendly and progressive cities in the entire world and there are people nearby who still don’t know what vegan or factory farming is. This outreach is still incredibly important and necessary everywhere.
—Brian Grupe, 2/8/10

Highlight of the day at Harvard: one woman declined a brochure, then stopped, turned around and said, “I just want you to know that you guys got me to go vegetarian last year by giving me one of those.”
—Jo Tyler, 2/19/10

Great day at Cypress College. I saw lots of students around campus reading the booklets. One student said with quiet hopefulness, “Are you vegan?” as though she’d never met another. She came back and asked for a Guide for her roommate, “I think she’s about to need it,” she said to me. I realize how encouraging and empowering it can be for young vegans to cross the path with someone who is also making countercultural eating decisions.
—Brianne Donaldson, 2/8/10

Michele McCowan and I handed out 400 Compassionate Choices at Montana State – Bozeman. Many people had them already from the Food, Inc. movie last month – we even had people thank us for being there! 45 people were so interested, they took a Guide.
—Bonnie Goodman (above), 2/10/10

Vic Sjodin exchanges information with a Florida International University student while Phil Letten waits for the next student.

I’ve been sticking to a 99% vegan diet for the last five weeks, and I’ve lost 10 pounds. Your weekly enewsletters provide much needed support – thanks!
—MR, 2/25/10

Great conversations at Fisk University, with lots of students saying they got one last semester from Vic and Phil. One even said she has it hanging up in her room!
     Our work is really catching on. One old roommate of mine is now going meatless one day a week with his current roommate. Another old roommate just sent me a message inquiring about vegetarianism. Last week, a member of a sorority where I had spoken emailed me telling me she’s now vegan and wants to help out.
—Kenny Torrella, 2/10/10

There were a ton of vegetarians at the University of Central Florida, some of whom said their change was due to a leaflet they received previously – go Vic & Phil! They all got Guides.
—Rob Gilbride, 2/10/10

 

Adrie Voors lets another James Madison University student know the hidden fate of “food animals.”

I handed out much more literature than I expected to at Chapman University. Students were very receptive – lots of declines came back to accept literature later. Met several former vegetarians who walked away with their fists full of literature, inspired to give it another go. Several students came by to say they had read it, offering a comment of disbelief or suggesting that they were going to seriously consider it. A chef came by to say how opposed he was to factory farming, and how much he enjoyed creating culinary alternatives.
—Brianne Donaldson, 2/3/10

Conversation of the day at Montgomery College – Takoma Park:
Me: Hello, info to help animals?
Young woman: Oh, I already got that and I’m now vegan.
Me: Awesome! What made you decide to do that?
Young woman: That booklet (points at Even If You Like Meat).
—Jon Camp, 2/4/10

At Stetson University’s College of Law, a male student initially refused a leaflet but then took one and said he appreciated that our approach is not “all or nothing.” Later, a woman said her son has had a strong aversion to eating meat even when he was a young child. She said she would show him the leaflet.
—Lana Smithson, 2/3/10

Met some vegans this time at Armstrong Atlantic University, one of whom went vegan due to receiving a leaflet in the past!
—Rob Gilbride, 2/4/10

University of Missouri students are engrossed in VO booklets.

While leafleting at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, I saw various signs of progress, including a flier at the student union: “Where can I find vegetarian/vegan/organic options on campus?” which lists food available at the various restaurants in the union. Also saw soy milk in small cartons and available with the cream for the coffee.
—Leslie Patterson, 2/5/10

Yve Solbrekken, Leah Wagner, and I reached over 3,000 University of Missouri students on this cold and snowy day in Columbia. We enjoyed largely positive and friendly reception from polite students. I had several interactions with various ag and animal science students. One respectful animal science student was very receptive to considering the cruelty side of the factory farming efficiency equation and realizing that these aspects need to be improved. One journalism student patiently interviewed me between booklets and that went well also.
—Rick Hershey, 2/4/10

Thank you for the dose of rationality!
—RH, 2/17/10, via Facebook

 

Very productive day at Ohlone College. One vegan remarked that she had found a discarded leaflet on my last visit and really liked the approach we took in encouraging veganism in a way that isn’t “all or nothing.” A woman told me she had gone veg as a result of the pamphlets and our conversation last semester. She told me she had started by cutting her meat [consumption] in half, then three quarters, and so on. She said she felt great both physically and emotionally. So great to see this working right before my eyes!
—Brian Grupe, 2/2/10

A University of South Carolina student is engrossed in learning the hidden truth of modern agribusiness, while Rob awaits more students in the background.

Thanks for sending me the booklets. This will be my first time leafleting, and I was kind of nervous. But after reading Matt’s Animal Activist’s Handbook, I’m really excited! It is such an inspiring book and it gave me so much good advice.
—BD, 2/9/10

Students at the College of Charleston were once again crazy over Syba (our canine companion). It was great because people would stop to pet her and I would hand out the Compassionate Choices. A student came up to me saying that she had been vegan for two years. After receiving a CC and a Guide, she is now convinced and returning to veganism.
—Rob Gilbride (at right), 2/3/10

Fun day at Bethume-Cook College – an African American, never-before-leafleted school. Phil and I met several vegetarians and had a lot of talks and laughs. One very large vegetarian took lit to share with his classmates.
—Vic Sjodin, 1/28/10

Very high acceptance rate at San Luis Obispo High School. Right at the start, one young woman said she recently became a vegetarian after receiving a leaflet. I congratulated her for making the change and gave her a Guide. After leafleting, our outreach continued when Roshanne (Bakhtiary) and I stopped for coffee. After inquiring about vegan options, the barista told us that he used to be a vegan. I asked why he stopped and he could not give a reason. I encouraged him to consider veganism again. He acknowledged he had compassion for animals and said he’d give it another try.
—Johanna Andris, 2/1/10

So nice to leaflet the University of Central Missouri with Leah Wagner. I had a faculty member tell me he supported the cause and was glad to see us there. A young student told me he was doing a presentation on factory farming so I gave him a few extras and directed him to some good websites. It’s nice to hear that college students are talking about this. I attended this exact school a little over four years ago, and I don’t recall anyone talking about the nasty politics of food production.
—Eva Helsel (at right), 2/2/10

While stopped at a light, a Gaithersburg High School student jumped out of her truck, ran over to get a booklet, and then ran back, making it on time. Another yelled out the window, “My boyfriend’s a vegan!” I heard similar comments today at Montgomery College – Germantown. This is catching on, friends. We need to continue to just do our best to represent the animals in a positive, productive manner – as opposed to giving in to impatience and frustration – as change truly is in motion. Thanks to all of you – leafleters and donors – who are creating this change!
—Jon Camp, 2/2/10

 

Chris Murguia reaches out for the animals at James Madison University.

I talked to two Youngstown State English classes looking for topics for a paper. My talk was not what they expected. Many said the argument – reducing animal suffering – had no holes or flaws in it, essentially leaving them with no questions about why one should not eat animals. I kept on track the whole time using the “indisputable bottom line” argument for changing their diet. Essentially, my whole talk incorporated VO literature (Even If You Like Meat), which was very well received by the 50 students. When I polled them before class, 2/3 said they had had a “bad vegetarian experience” – i.e. conflict with a difficult vegetarian. I feel safe to say that the talks were good vegetarian experiences for the students. Many of the students decided to write about the issue and are rethinking the way that they eat.
—Dan Kuzma, 2/7/10

Even though it was 9 degrees, I was excited to be back in the field at the University of Illinois – Chicago. Another person leafleting told me he was vegetarian, so I gave him a Guide. Another told me she recently went veg. I asked if she wanted some recipes and she said, “Yes, I am SO hungry!” At one point I realized a young man was standing waiting to talk to me. He said, “I think it is really beautiful what you are doing, being out here helping animals especially in this cold.” It was sweet and he took a Guide.
—Leslie Patterson, 1/29/10

A student at Wayne State learns the truth after receiving a booklet from Leah; below, she braves the elements to reach more Michigan students.

It was 1 degree today in Detroit, so I had to go into the library periodically to thaw out. I gave a brochure to a guy in there sitting next to me. He said he used to be vegetarian for health reasons. Then he opened the brochure and started saying, “Wow…wow!” He then said he’s going to try it again. I didn’t have any Guides with me, but I told him how to get one.
—Leah Wagner (below), 1/29/10

I just received a brochure on my campus. Thanks for the knowledge – you are changing my thoughts about the animals which we eat. Please send me recipes!
—RK, 2/6/10

An outstanding day at the University of Virginia. One guy told me that my polite and non-pushy approach was unusual and admirable, and this led to a productive conversation. One young woman mentioned that receiving the Even If You Like Meat from me last year led to her going vegan. I also came across a guy I met the last time I was there who is still veg as a result of an Even If, and another young woman let me know that she is going veg for the next month.
—Jon Camp, 1/28/10

I just want to say how happy and fortunate I feel to have leafleted across Florida with Vic Sjodin and Phil Letten. I had many great encounters, including several students who came up to me and said, “Is that the info about animals – I would like one.” A woman pointed to the words on the cover of the Even If You Like Meat and said she could probably cut her meat consumption in half but didn’t think she could completely stop eating meat. I thanked her for considering the positive step and gave her encouragement and a Guide. A student called the pamphlet “effective.”
—Lana Smithson, 1/27/10

Phil and I had a very effective day at Valencia College, Seminole College – Oviedo, Seminole College – Sanford, and the University of Central Florida. We met what felt like a zillion vegetarians and had an extraordinary amount of conversations as these schools are conducive to that. One girl said she only ate chicken, and Phil broke it down for her that they are by far the most abused animal, etc., and she pledged never to eat chicken again. Several thanked us for the info, others wanted more for friends – I can’t remember all of the other interesting interactions!
—Vic Sjodin, 1/27/10

 

Leah Wagner (above) and Joe Espinosa (below) braved the cold to take the animals’ message to University of Michigan students.

Many thanks to Lana Smithson and Nikki Benoit for driving out to Orlando to join Phil Letten and me at Central Florida University. We had numerous great interactions, and watched many people reading their booklet. Someone told Lana the pamphlet made them cry, and later, two guys prayed with her that her message would be heard. My favorite was a girl who, after speaking with me, threw her platter of bacon and eggs in the trash. Very proud of our effort today – it was very tiring, but everybody just kept plugging away. There are many new vegetarians in Orlando tonight.
—Vic Sjodin, 1/26/10 (Note: the 7,498 students they reached is a new one-day single-school record!)

Here in the very conservative farm state of Kansas, we’re doing our best to spread the word about factory farming and animal suffering. We led a six-week series of ethics classes at our church and did two classes on factory farming, handing out Vegan Outreach literature and referencing your website. (We also leave your booklets on the pamphlet table at church.) As a result, our church has decided to always offer vegetarian fare as an alternative. Our daughters also do outreach to their friends at school, and some have gone vegetarian. Just as we were ignorant in the past, we believe most people really don’t know about modern factory farming, and it is our job to get the information to them.
—M&CO, 1/3/10

We’re starting to leaflet here in Kitchener-Waterloo; here is my latest donation. I was an omnivore for years – if I can be won over, there’s hope!
—AH, 1/24/10

Reached 1,075 students with Even If You Like Meat booklets at Illinois State, and also handed out 14 Guides. One student let me know that getting a booklet from us last semester had moved her to become vegetarian. Also, I was approached by two separate students who inquired about joining in the work. I gave them each a copy of AML and a brief explanation that leafleting on behalf af farmed animals was statistically likely to be the best thing we can do to reduce animal suffering at this time.
—Joe Espinosa (at right), 1/12/10

Handed booklets to 1,400 students during a long day at Virginia Commonwealth University, while receiving some kind words of support. One young woman said receiving the Even If last November prompted her to go veg.
—Jon Camp, 1/26/10

Neither Chicago snow nor the dead of night keeps Drea Alexander from reaching out to spread compassion.

At Santa Clara University, a student mentioned that the booklets had been brought up in one of his classes, and for the most part the students agreed with what was said inside. He also asked how I felt about the human suffering that was caused by factory farming and said he felt the booklets would have a larger impact upon the students if the booklets had discussed that issue more. I agreed that the impact from factory farms on humans was certainly terrible and worth ending as well, but I felt that one of the things the booklets were intended to challenge was the idea that non-human animals aren’t worthy of having their interests considered in and of themselves. He agreed with this.
—Theo Summer, 1/13/10

At the Houston Marathon, I met a nice family that all went veg after I gave them a booklet at the International Festival a few years ago – the father opened the booklet and they quit (eating meat) on the spot. They even help Eugene Khutoryansky leaflet on occassion.
—Casey Constable, 1/17/10

I had a great conversation with a guy who seemed really inspired to change his diet after reading a booklet. This kind of interaction always makes me realize how important it is to be out there spreading the word. I’m sure we all make a real difference for animals each time we make the effort to leaflet.
—Yvonne LeGrice, 1/15/10

 

Rico McCoy lets another Southwestern Illinois College student know the hidden truth of factory farms.

A great day at George Washington U. These booklets are becoming recognizable on campuses everywhere. Several students today knew exactly what it was before I handed it to them, and so many said that it is what prompted them to try vegetarian/vegan. Also, a student we met while leafleting was excited to see people being active on campus and was inspired to get active herself. We gave her Vegan Outreach’s contact info.
—Aaron Ross, 1/13/10

At De Anza College last week, a gal approached me to let me know she had been veg for four months after receiving a leaflet from me last quarter. She had recently stopped being completely veg because she felt she didn’t know how to do it properly. She almost jumped for joy when I handed her a Guide! Another gal approached Theo (Summer) and me to thank us for leafleting. She said she was veg a few years back but (like the other gal) didn’t know what to eat to stay healthy. She was also totally excited to get a Guide.
     Today at Santa Rosa Junior College (main and Petaluma campuses), Theo remarked this might have been his best day of outreach as far as both exchanges and general leafleting. We met a number of vegetarians at SRJC and I also chatted with inquisitive individuals. At the Petaluma campus, Theo was jealous because I met five vegans (two in a row!) and more vegetarians. Too many conversations to detail, but ALL were good.
—Brian Grupe, 1/11/10

Andrea Cimino takes the animals’ message to the students at the University of Mary Washington.

I have been handing out your booklets and just got a bunch of new vegans! I am especially proud as I got a whole, wonderful family on board, including their 13 year old, who was disgusted when he saw it. These booklets WORK!
—Linda Middlesworth, 1/21/10

Written to Phil Letten:
I’m really happy you guys came to Georgia Southern because just today I was talking to someone as she started reading your booklet. This girl had NO idea this stuff went on and this was legal. I think most of the reason more people aren’t vegetarian or vegan is because they don’t know of the brutal and unfair treatment of helpless animals. Another girl told me she’s never really thought about where meat comes from! I was blown away. Thank you for making such an impact.
—JT, 1/20/10

 

Leafleting at the Galleria Mall, I just happened to overhear one woman tell her friend that she had gone vegetarian because of a booklet she received from me. Later, after talking to a guy for several minutes, his mother chimed in that it was receiving a booklet from me that had convinced him to go veg. So our conversion rate is a lot higher than one would think just by listening to direct feedback, or lack thereof. Most people just don’t seem to feel compelled to share the good news with us.
—Eugene Khutoryansky, 12/21/09

It was freezing, but Wesley College was great. One student said she had received a booklet in the past and, after receiving it again today, is considering going vegetarian. Having read Even If You Like Meat, another student came back and said he will try vegetarian.
—Aaron Ross (above, at George Washington U), 1/11/10

Good interactions at Linn-Benton Community College. One woman said that after getting a booklet last term, she and her fiancé have been eating more meatless meals. Others commented on how sad the pictures and info are. One person was really shocked and asked in disbelief, “Is this still going on?” Had a couple of people ask for extras for friends, and saw other students reading the booklets and talking about it.
—Nettie Schwager, 1/4/10

Met some vegetarians and engaged others in dialogue at Mott Community College. Some told me they wanted to try going vegetarian or at least cut down on meat. At one point I went inside a building to warm up and noticed a bunch of people intently reading the leaflets while sitting down in the lobby.
—Phil Letten, 1/12/10

I saw a lot of kids engrossed in their booklets today at Boulder High School, which is always great to see. One young woman recognized me from a few days ago while I was out dog-walking. At that time she had said, “I like your vegan pin.” I didn’t wear my pin while leafleting today, but when she saw me on her campus, she said, “Hey, I saw you the other day. You’re a vegan – that’s the way to be!” She and her friend happily accepted leaflets.
—Barbara Bear, 1/12/10

Awesome day of leafleting at the University of California, Davis. Theo Summer (right) and I were in action for six solid hours, and we were joined by Matt Zavortink making his leafleting debut. Students seem to take this issue very seriously. One student reported that they had spent a portion of her comparative sociology course discussing the booklet. A teacher said to me, “Ah! I saw my students with these in class today. You know I teach about this in class.” I heard a number of people remark to a friend/ group, “I can’t look at those pictures!” or “Don’t look at it or you won’t be able to eat meat!” As much as people would like the issue to remain “out of sight, out of mind,” we leafleters will keep on truckin’ until justice is served up in the form of a vegan meal on every plate!
—Brian Grupe, 1/5/10

 

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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