Meatless Monday Starter Guide
Start a Meatless Monday campaign at your school.
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Youth advocacy
Inspiring youth to help animals and spread kindness.
Youth Services and Activities with Pasado’s Safe Haven
There are so many ways that youth can make a real impact for animals. We want to provide some tools to put that passion into action.
Featured Program
Pasado's Pen Pals
Connect with the animal residents of Pasado’s Safe Haven through our internationally recognized pen pal program, recently featured in PEOPLE Magazine! Participants are invited to choose an animal friend from our pen pal list and write them a letter. And, once the animals receive their letter, participants might just get something in return!
Help animals in your school cafeteria
There are many ways to help animals, but the most effective thing you can do is eat fewer animal products. Increasing plant-based options in your school cafeteria is a great way to encourage classmates to try vegan/vegetarian meals. It also makes a huge difference for animals when your whole school gets a chance to try more compassionate meal options. Check out our resources for bringing more plant-based options to your school and home.
Other activities that help animals
Help animals by starting a school club
Starting a school club is a great way to get other classmates involved and aware of animal issues. Here are a few steps you can take to start your very own school club!
- Ask friends to help you get the club started.
- Identify a teacher to act as your advisor/sponsor.
- Find out your school’s procedure for starting a school club and seek formal approval.
- Find a place to hold meetings, maybe your lunchroom or your teacher advisor’s classroom.
- Get the word out about your club with announcements and posters.
- Hold your first meeting and plan your club’s goals and activities.
- Take action!
- Keep recruiting new members.
Ideas for activities that your school club can host are endless!
Here are a few suggestions of what you and other club members can do:
- Host a vegan bake sale or other event as a fundraiser for a shelter, animal organization or sanctuary like Pasado’s Safe Haven.
- Organize a volunteer day at Pasado’s Safe Haven or another animal sanctuary/shelter in your area.
- Host a movie screening that educates other students on issues involving animals.
- Host a letter writing party and write letters to your mayor or the governor about animal issues.
- Use your club as a platform to get other students involved with introducing more plant-based options in your school cafeteria.
- Make adoption posters for homeless cats and dogs to share in your community.
- Invite local activists to come speak to your class. You can invite speakers who cover topics like plant-based eating, animal cruelty and animal activism. If your school is in the greater Seattle area you can book a Pasado’s Safe Haven speaker to come to one of your classes.
Are you an aspiring animal advocate?
Youth Advocates
Meet other aspiring animal activists!
Jack
Jack is a lover of animals by nature. After visiting Pasado’s Safe Haven and falling in love with the animals (especially the pigs!) he began encouraging his family to get more involved. Jack says, “I think eating animals and animal cruelty is sad and gross. I think that they are the same as humans, they only have a different kind of body. That is why I want to help animals.”
Novia and Ava
High school students Novia and Ava have been working with Pasado’s Safe Haven to support the Humane Pet Sales Bill. This started after they learned that many of the dogs sold in pet stores actually come from puppy mills. The two took action by creating a petition that asked King County Council to pass an ordinance requiring pet stores to source dogs and cats from rescue groups. From there, these young women have supported Pasado’s Safe Haven in our state efforts and even testified in Olympia!
Nathaniel
Nathaniel has been a vegan for his entire life and growing up this way has inspired him to be an advocate for ALL animals. As an 8th grader at The Evergreen School, Nathaniel is a leader in the Animal Club. For his Bar Mitzvah project, Nathaniel felt that it was his responsibility to do more, so he also created an informational video and GoFundMe page to educate others and raise money for the Pet Services Program at Pasado’s Safe Haven.