Take Action with Your Community
An initiative you begin today could spare an animal from suffering in the future.
Is your parish, organization, university, or family looking to incorporate Creation-friendly changes into your ongoing practices or to launch a special initiative? Below are simple ways to get started. Many of these ideas fit perfectly into existing creation care initiatives, reflecting slight changes that have a big pay-off for animals.
For Farmed Animals
Expand meatless days.
Starting with Meatless Mondays and Meatless Fridays all year long as a community can be a simple, effective first step to make a real difference for animals who suffer greatly in our food system.
Opt for DefaultVeg for your events.
DefaultVeg or Greener-by-Default programs flip the script - making delicious vegan meals the default option, while letting guests opt in for a non-vegan meal. This proven, turnkey program has been gaining popularity and is a great place to start.
Start a plant-based recipe exchange or host a plant-based potluck.
Commit to trying more plant-based recipes and sharing the outcome! It’s a fun, community-building way to discover delicious, easy recipes. Start with simple vegan recipes from popular websites like Minimalist Baker and Forks Over Knives.
Choose compassionate plant-based options for fundraisers.
Spaghetti dinners, plant-based bake sales, pecans or candied nut sales, and silent auctions can raise money while protecting our fellow creatures.
Choose vegan clothing, furniture, and products.
Animals suffer for leather, wool, and down. Fortunately, we have access to an abundance of high-quality alternatives, from cozy down-free pillows to durable vegan leather tapestries.
For Wild Animals
Coordinate a bird walk with your local Audubon.
Birding is an awe-inspiring way to connect with creation. Contact your local Audubon to learn about coordinating a private walk or join one of their existing guided tours with experienced birders.
Turn your Church grounds into a Saint Kateri-certified wildlife habitat.
What better way to protect God’s creatures than by turning your church into a sanctuary for them too? Learn about the Saint Kateri-certified habitat guidelines, and apply to receive your sign to raise awareness about this meaningful program.
Vow to ditch glue traps.
These sticky boards cause unimaginable suffering to both the target and non-target species, yet they are still commonly used. They ensnare small creatures, causing them to die slow and painful deaths from suffocation, dehydration, starvation, or stress - sometimes over the course of days. Humane alternatives abound and many companies have already discontinued their use of these torturous devices.
Go “Lights Out” at night during spring and fall migration.
Help migrating birds fly the night sky as they were meant to! Artificial lights can be disorienting for birds, taking them off their migration path, causing exhaustion, or leading to building collisions, according to the National Audubon Society. Many cities and companies have pledged to turn off non-essential nighttime lights between 11pm - 6am. Connect with your local Audubon to take part in their “Lights Out” campaign.
Leave the leaves!
Did you know leaf litter is a blessing to insects, birds, and other wildlife? Leaving them through the winter, or neatly keeping them in specified areas, can provide sustenance for birds and other animals all season long. A nice excuse to skip the yardwork!
For Companion Animals
Host a Blessing of the Pets event during Saint Francis Day and celebrate the love animals bring to us.
Consider fostering an animal.
When it comes to appreciating God’s creatures, nothing beats welcoming an animal in need into your home. (You might enjoy it even more than they do!) Your kind gesture could also save a life. During “kitten season” in the spring, shelters desperately need help caring for kitten litters.
For Animals in Laboratories
Shop for cruelty-free hygiene products.
If you’re assembling outreach kits for your homeless outreach ministry, look for the cruelty-free label. This simple change supports brands who have chosen kind, modern alternatives to painful animal tests.
Choose cruelty-free cleaning supplies.
Make sure your property truly shines by cleaning with products that didn’t hurt God’s creatures, such as Seventh Generation, Method, and Mrs. Meyer’s. When shopping, simply seek out the cruelty-free label.
Tell Us About Your Project
Is your community launching an animal-friendly project?
We'd love to hear from you and possibly feature your community initiative on our blog! Please contact us to let us know about your project or if we can help you bring it to fruition.
