![\"Thoughtful](\"https:\/\/www.bayareaveg.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/20140923_solano-community-college.jpg\")
<\/a>Thoughtful reader, outreach selfie, and the turkeys<\/p><\/div>\n
Me: “Information to help animals?”<\/em> Me: “It\u2019s information to help animals.” Woman: \u201cIs this about not eating them?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Me: “Yes”<\/em> That was an atypical reaction, and from someone who was most likely a faculty or staff member. \u00a0Most individuals that were approached,\u00a0particularly the students, welcomed and thanked us\u00a0for the information.<\/p>\n It’s always great when we see students halt in their tracks\u00a0and read the leaflet right after receiving it. \u00a0In total,\u00a0274 Vegan Outreach booklets were distributed that day . \u00a0But it’s not just the numbers that matter. \u00a0What made the day even more meaningful were\u00a0those\u00a0who paused on their way to class\u00a0to chat briefly, including:<\/p>\n – Michelle, a young woman who is an aspiring vegan and was thrilled to receive a booklet (and hopes people are reading the literature)<\/p>\n – Joe, visiting the campus who was genuinely surprised by the info even though he has relatives (sister, cousin) who are veg<\/p>\n – Mat, Joe’s friend. who is a chef at Hilton Hotel in Sacramento and we chatted about what vegan options they have, including faux meats and cheeses<\/p>\n – Pam, a\u00a0professor who declined a pamphlet but shared she taught\u00a0Environmental Studies. \u00a0So\u00a0I mentioned the big climate change rally that recently happened, and she said that was one of 4 possible topics she was going to propose to her class they talk about today. I suggested she frame it in a manner of what each of them could do as individuals in their daily lives to impact the issue, as too often these problems seem so intangible. She embraced the suggestion and said she\u2019d do it. \u00a0I wonder how that discussion went.<\/p>\n – Joe, a vegan student who wants to leaflet (happily gave him my info)<\/p>\n – Wanda, a student who received a leaflet last month and\u00a0started making changes, such as choosing meatless on alternating days<\/p>\n And one of the last exchanges that I had — a woman rushing into a building declined a pamphlet but offered instead \u201cI\u2019m vegan\u201d and \u201cI need to go teach my class now\u201d<\/p>\n We love meeting other vegans. But we’re even happier to meet more folks like a\u00a0young woman who was quite frank with me — she wants to be veg but her mom is reluctant. I encouraged her to research more information to allay her mom\u2019s fears, and I gave her my contact info. I hope she writes me; there’s some solid information available supporting a plant-strong diet.<\/p>\n It was also great to see\u00a06\u00a0young turkeys\u00a0and 1 squirrel enjoying the beautiful lawn on the campus.<\/p>\n Join us!<\/strong><\/em> Whether you have an extra 30 minutes or 2 hours, your help\u00a0would be most appreciated. \u00a0No previous experience is necessary, just the ability to smile, hold a leaflet, and say “Hello”.<\/p>\n
\nWoman: “What is this about?”<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWoman \u2013 takes flyer<\/p>\n
\nWoman: \u201cI eat meat\u201d<\/em> and gives flyer back<\/p>\n
\nColleges are being leafleted around the nation, and abroad. \u00a0Our\u00a0next college leafleting planned is Tuesday, Sept 30th at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill (event link<\/a>). \u00a0We’ll return next to Solano Community College on Wednesday, Oct 22nd (see the BAVeg Event calendar<\/a> to confirm date and time).<\/p>\n