Note from the Coordinators

We live in a society where nothing is enough. Of course, this applies to material goods. People constantly need the next new device, vegan junk food, or miracle cure. It also pertains to the actions and demands put on us. When one of our members was five, he asked, "Why should I quickly finish my worksheet (in school)? I'll just be given another boring worksheet to do."

Nothing being enough can also apply to people, politicians, activists, organizations, and society in general. On one hand, more and more expectations can cause us to do better and excel. On the other hand, because we can't meet everyone's needs, it causes many to give up. To be successful and keep going, a part of you has to not care. People are in movements because they care, so this is sad and creates contradictions. Life is figuring out where that line is. Lin Silvan from the Eugene Veg Education Network put it very nicely when she said, "No matter how much there is still left to do, the distance traveled needs to be acknowledged, too. At least that is the more uplifting way to see it; otherwise our knees would buckle under the pressure."

According to Natural Marketing Institute, one out of three consumers is willing to pay 10 percent more for a product that is "mindful" (having different meanings to different people, but can be related to environment, health, worker treatment, etc.). According to VRG polls, about three to five percent of the population is vegetarian. So, though we still have a long way to go in the USA, we should still feel good about how far we've come.

Our office was contacted by the Subway restaurant chain in reference to their testing a vegan burger in the West Palm Beach, Florida area. If you live there when the test is still happening, and you go to quick service-chains, please support them and let others know about this vegan item. Thank you to volunteer Chef Angie for creating vegan recipes that will be available to more than 800 long-term care facilities.

Kudos to VRG Foodservice Advisor Chef Nancy for creating vegan recipes for volunteers who want to contribute vegan casseroles to Our Daily Bread in Baltimore, which serves over 700 meals daily to the needy. About 10 percent ask for a vegetarian option. See: http://www.catholiccharities-md.org/our-daily-bread/odb-food-service/favorite-casserole-recipes.html. Nancy tested these at a senior center in the Los Angeles, CA area. Consider cooking one of these casseroles and donating to your local feeding site.

Remember, don't expect others or yourself to totally eliminate the darkness, but encourage people in whatever positive steps they can take.