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When NW VEG was founded in 2003, we had massive potlucks each month, often with 40-60 + people, including families bringing their children to play in our children’s areas, people new to veganism, and everyone just excited to find community. We were concerned that new attendees might be overwhelmed, so I briefly hosted a welcome ½ hour with snacks for everyone interested in meeting others ahead of the dinner. And that’s where I met Cindy.
Cindy was new to veganism and had started to eat a whole foods plant-based diet due to health issues. She enthusiastically told us how she had lost a significant amount of weight and that it had vastly improved her health. She didn’t know much about the environmental and farmed animal issues of concern to vegans, but her compassionate heart left her open to quickly learn and become a fully engaged vegan activist with NW VEG.
Cindy soon became our most active volunteer at weekly tabling events, talking to the general public and handing out literature throughout the area. Cindy’s outgoing personality and passion for veganism helped her engage with everyone. She joined the NW VEG Board in 2005 and often hosted our meetings at her home, with a social lunch following our meetings. These were great years.
Cindy is also a fabulous cook and kitchen organizer and took on the role of Kitchen Manager at our early VegFests. She ensured that everything ran smoothly for multiple cooking demos, our vegan sampling tables, saw to the restaurant tables being regularly cleared/cleaned, and assisted any food exhibitors who ran into problems too!
Covid greatly impacted the outreach activities of NW VEG and Cindy also developed health issues which began to limit her volunteer time. We miss her and NW VEG owes her a sincere thank you, for all the successes we wouldn’t have achieved without her help over 21+ years! Her life is well-lived and has made a difference for all of us and non-human animals.
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