Seattle Walk for Farm Animals | Sunshine and Slaughter

This past Saturday was the 2014 Seattle Walk for Farm Animals, a fundraiser for the rescued animals at Farm Sanctuary’s three shelters. Walkers raised close to $12,000 and donations are being accepted until September 27th, so pitch in if you’d like!

Photo by Fernando Cuenca

Like last year, we met at Green Lake to walk the 2.9 mile path around the lake. Before the walk, participants stretched at a yoga class, ate Mighty-O vegan donuts, and bid on items in the silent auction.

After the walk, Br-er Rabbit, a Bellingham-based band played for the crowd while we ate delicious vegan food by Field Roast, Chaco Canyon Café, Pizza Pi, Seattle Cookie Counter, and No Bones About It.

Auction winners took home prizes like gift cards to Café Flora, cooking classes by Fire and Earth Kitchen, and a pet portrait session by Vegan Me.

The best thing you can do to help animals is to not eat them. Being vegan makes a huge difference to the lives of so many animals–and you’ll feel better too! If you’ve never been to a farm animal sanctuary, I encourage you to visit one and make the connection between the “food animals” in the food system and the animals at these wonderful shelters.

Anika will help you go vegan

Billions of animals are killed for food every year–a number too big to fathom. But seeing the individuals at Farm Sanctuary and other safe havens makes the issue personal.

This past Saturday was the Seattle Walk for Farm Animals, organized by Farm Sanctuary. About 120 people raised funds for America’s largest farm animals sanctuary (although it looked like a lot more were in the walk). Together, we raised almost $11,000–just shy of our goal.

Animal advocates in the Walk for Farmed Animals (photo courtesy of Paul Litwin)

We met at Green Lake, a beautiful Seattle park with a 2.8 mile path around a lake. Despite rain in the forecast, we had a beautiful, sunny day. My friend Shelly and I got to carry the event banner! I felt like I was in a parade. The walk was a great opportunity to honor farm animals–both the ones who are rescued and the ones who’ve lost their lives because of people’s desire for animal flesh.

Several people gave us a “thumbs up” or peace sign. Many more were learning for the first time that there are people who care about all animals and who don’t want to eat them.

Barb helped distribute posters for people to carry in the walk

When we finished the walk, the Green Lake Community Center was set up for us with a delicious, filling buffet, live music by Gary Finkelstein, and a slide show of rescued farm animals.

Many thanks to Mighty-O, Violet Sweet Shoppe, Araya’s, Veggie Grill, Pizza Pi, Field Roast, and all the other businesses that donated vegan eats for the hungry walkers.

I’m glad I bought raffle tickets before the walk. I ended up winning a beautiful faux leather bag by Susan Nicole! There were many other prizes too, like dog treats by Adventure Days, pet portraits by Vegan Me, and a mini vacation at Someday Farm Vegan B&B.

The walk was a wonderful time for community with like-minded people and a chance to help support a great organization. I’m looking forward to next year!