By Kalie Ganem, VRG Intern

On August 25, 2018, I along with ten thousand others, had the pleasure of attending Baltimore’s Vegan Soulfest https://www.vegansoulfest.com, a festival of vendors, organizations, and performers all coming together to celebrate veganism. The Vegetarian Resource Group set up our booth there in order to answer questions, distribute recipes, sell merchandise, and spread interest for veganism. I, along with other volunteers Julia, Marcy, Davin, and Matt, spoke to a wide variety of people from all different walks of life, all with one thing in common: a passion for veganism.

We passed out editions of our quarterly magazine Vegetarian Journal, which includes recipes and tips, to everyone who passed by, most of whom took it with enthusiasm at the prospect of new dishes to try. I spoke to many people who were struggling with the diet and needed faith that it was worth the trouble, including the mother of a teenager with an eating disorder, a worried father of vegan children, and a woman trying to add gluten-free to her long list of dietary restrictions. Many asked about alternative sources of protein, to which I responded with a laundry-list of plant-based protein sources they could try. One man revealed that he ran for office and had to hide his vegetarianism from the public for public relation reasons. One woman who particularly struck me was a physician seeking help on selling a plant-based diet to her meat-loving, but consequently sick patients. She talked about frequently hearing how her patients could never give up the taste of a fatty meat diet, and how they had convinced themselves that plants were not healthier so they would not have to change their ways. How were her patients supposed to believe that a change of diet would save their health when organizations that are supposed to be health conscious were recommending meat-loaf as a heart healthy recipe? We discussed how there is so much more work to be done in getting the word out about how good for the body and planet veganism really is, but events like this very festival were taking huge steps in the right direction. We gave her a stack of copies of our Vegetarian Journal to give to her patients to help inform them of the power of veganism.

This experience really touched my heart in so many ways. Other than my own parents, I had never seen anyone besides teenage girls trying these diets, but this festival really opened me up to the large community of vegans. I had gone in with the expectation that I would inspire others to make the change to or further their belief in veganism, which I believe I accomplished on many occasions. What I did not expect is that I myself would be so inspired by the very people I was trying to help. Hearing all their different stories and backgrounds really reminded me why I chose and continue to choose this lifestyle every day. It reaffirmed for me the positivity of both body and soul that comes from eating from the earth. Even though I had been standing and talking in the hot sun all day, I came back from the festival not fatigued, but energized, excited to try the free products I got and inspired by those around me.

To volunteer at future Vegetarian Resource Group outreach booths, contact Donate to The Vegetarian Resource Group

Or join VRG at Join The Vegetarian Resource Group