Salem Vegan Society to Donate Vegan Turkey for Salem Mission's Thanksgiving
With the turkey production in the US at a 167-percent increase in 2007, Salem Vegan Society Director Marc Delaney views the donation of Tofurky, a vegan alternative-turkey product, to the 4th annual Salem Vegan Food Drive this June, as an opportunity to lend vegan charity to homeless shelter residents at the Salem Mission
Salem, MA, May 22, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Vegan Turkey for Salem Mission’s Thanksgiving in 2009?
Salem and North Shore residents may be heading into summer and looking forward to some much-anticipated beach weather, but Salem Vegan Society’s director has his sights set on Thanksgiving 2009.
SVS Founder/Director Marc Delaney, now in the process of preparing for the fourth annual Salem Vegan Food Drive to benefit the Salem Mission this June, has just received a special vegan product donation from Vegan Food Drive corporate sponsor Turtle Island Foods, the makers of the vegan turkey-alternative product, Tofurky.
Turtle Island, currently the leading vegan turkey-alternative producer in the United States and a vegan company itself, has agreed to sponsor this year’s Food Drive, and has provided Delaney and Salem Vegan Society with over $200 in Tofurky product vouchers, which may be redeemed at any time throughout 2009.
Recognizing the appropriateness of this donation, given the numerous Salem Mission Thanksgiving dinners served to the homeless each November, but favoring Tofurky’s vegan “alternative” ingredients, Delaney is now considering retaining Turtle Island Food’s product vouchers for now, and presenting the actual vegan Tofurkys to Salem Mission’s kitchen manager in November, to coincide with the Salem Mission’s annual Thanksgiving dinners.
Delaney has informed Salem Mission staff member Jennifer Pieroni and Mission Director Mark Cote about his projected plans for this very special donation to this year’s Salem Vegan Food Drive, and has been informed by Pieroni, acting as this year’s contact for the Food Drive, that the Mission’s kitchen manager will in fact be able to accommodate and prepare the alternative-meat product donations this November.
Delaney said: “According to a University of Illinois fact sheet, in 2007, 271,685,000 turkeys were produced in the United States. Turkey consumption has increased by 116-percent since 1970, that’s a 300-percent increase.
“In 2007, the average American consumed 17.5 pounds of turkey, and 97-percent of Americans surveyed by the National Turkey Federation reported that they eat turkey at Thanksgiving.
“And these figures just reflect the United States, not the world. These numbers are staggering, considering that each turkey “produced,” or raised, is a thinking, sentient being, that should in fact have rights of their own, to live out their lives as they choose, on free-range land or sanctuary.
“Today, animals have virtually no rights. This is the main purpose behind the annual Salem Vegan Food Drive, to provide good, wholesome, vegan food for Salem Mission residents, but also to remind those more fortunate among us here in Salem and on the North Shore that consuming turkey and other animal products is not necessary, that all of us can live happy, healthy lives consuming an entirely vegan diet.”
One local supplier of Tofurky is Whole Foods Market in Swampscott, and Delaney says that he will work with Whole Foods to obtain the Tofurkys that will be donated this year to the Salem Mission.
This year’s 4th annual Salem Vegan Food Drive officially launches for 2009 on June 1, but anyone may donate now online via Facebook Causes and their Network for Good application.
Donors can use their Visa or MasterCard to quickly and securely donate online via Facebook, with their donation sent electronically directly to the Salem Mission. Those donations, earmarked as Salem Vegan Food Drive donations, will be reserved for the purchase of vegan food, and will automatically enter them into this year’s Vegan Food Drive Raffle.
Anyone may also donate by check for any amount made payable to the Salem Vegan Society, and sent to SVS Vegan Food Drive, PO Box 283, Salem MA 01970.
This year, Salem Vegan Society will also be represented at Salem’s annual Living Green and Renewable Energy Fair on June 13, 10 am to 3 pm, at Salem’s Old Town Hall.
Delaney and other SVS members invite residents of Salem and North Shore communities to visit the Living Green Fair and to stop by the Salem Vegan Society table, where they can donate with cash or check to the Food Drive, and also be automatically entered into this year’s Vegan Food Drive Raffle for a chance to win one of three prizes being offered this year.
Everyone is encouraged to visit the Salem Vegan Society website to find out more about this year’s Salem Vegan Food Drive.
Contact:
Marc Delaney
Founder/Director
Salem Vegan Society
PO Box 283
Salem MA 01970
Voice Mail: 978.745.3314
###
Salem and North Shore residents may be heading into summer and looking forward to some much-anticipated beach weather, but Salem Vegan Society’s director has his sights set on Thanksgiving 2009.
SVS Founder/Director Marc Delaney, now in the process of preparing for the fourth annual Salem Vegan Food Drive to benefit the Salem Mission this June, has just received a special vegan product donation from Vegan Food Drive corporate sponsor Turtle Island Foods, the makers of the vegan turkey-alternative product, Tofurky.
Turtle Island, currently the leading vegan turkey-alternative producer in the United States and a vegan company itself, has agreed to sponsor this year’s Food Drive, and has provided Delaney and Salem Vegan Society with over $200 in Tofurky product vouchers, which may be redeemed at any time throughout 2009.
Recognizing the appropriateness of this donation, given the numerous Salem Mission Thanksgiving dinners served to the homeless each November, but favoring Tofurky’s vegan “alternative” ingredients, Delaney is now considering retaining Turtle Island Food’s product vouchers for now, and presenting the actual vegan Tofurkys to Salem Mission’s kitchen manager in November, to coincide with the Salem Mission’s annual Thanksgiving dinners.
Delaney has informed Salem Mission staff member Jennifer Pieroni and Mission Director Mark Cote about his projected plans for this very special donation to this year’s Salem Vegan Food Drive, and has been informed by Pieroni, acting as this year’s contact for the Food Drive, that the Mission’s kitchen manager will in fact be able to accommodate and prepare the alternative-meat product donations this November.
Delaney said: “According to a University of Illinois fact sheet, in 2007, 271,685,000 turkeys were produced in the United States. Turkey consumption has increased by 116-percent since 1970, that’s a 300-percent increase.
“In 2007, the average American consumed 17.5 pounds of turkey, and 97-percent of Americans surveyed by the National Turkey Federation reported that they eat turkey at Thanksgiving.
“And these figures just reflect the United States, not the world. These numbers are staggering, considering that each turkey “produced,” or raised, is a thinking, sentient being, that should in fact have rights of their own, to live out their lives as they choose, on free-range land or sanctuary.
“Today, animals have virtually no rights. This is the main purpose behind the annual Salem Vegan Food Drive, to provide good, wholesome, vegan food for Salem Mission residents, but also to remind those more fortunate among us here in Salem and on the North Shore that consuming turkey and other animal products is not necessary, that all of us can live happy, healthy lives consuming an entirely vegan diet.”
One local supplier of Tofurky is Whole Foods Market in Swampscott, and Delaney says that he will work with Whole Foods to obtain the Tofurkys that will be donated this year to the Salem Mission.
This year’s 4th annual Salem Vegan Food Drive officially launches for 2009 on June 1, but anyone may donate now online via Facebook Causes and their Network for Good application.
Donors can use their Visa or MasterCard to quickly and securely donate online via Facebook, with their donation sent electronically directly to the Salem Mission. Those donations, earmarked as Salem Vegan Food Drive donations, will be reserved for the purchase of vegan food, and will automatically enter them into this year’s Vegan Food Drive Raffle.
Anyone may also donate by check for any amount made payable to the Salem Vegan Society, and sent to SVS Vegan Food Drive, PO Box 283, Salem MA 01970.
This year, Salem Vegan Society will also be represented at Salem’s annual Living Green and Renewable Energy Fair on June 13, 10 am to 3 pm, at Salem’s Old Town Hall.
Delaney and other SVS members invite residents of Salem and North Shore communities to visit the Living Green Fair and to stop by the Salem Vegan Society table, where they can donate with cash or check to the Food Drive, and also be automatically entered into this year’s Vegan Food Drive Raffle for a chance to win one of three prizes being offered this year.
Everyone is encouraged to visit the Salem Vegan Society website to find out more about this year’s Salem Vegan Food Drive.
Contact:
Marc Delaney
Founder/Director
Salem Vegan Society
PO Box 283
Salem MA 01970
Voice Mail: 978.745.3314
###
Contact
Salem Vegan Society
Marc Delaney
978-745-3314
http://www.salemvegan.org
Marc Delaney
978-745-3314
http://www.salemvegan.org
Contact
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