***Space is limited. You must register to save your spot. Scroll to the bottom of the event below to sign up, or visit CAA.MN/Volunteer for our complete list of volunteer signups.

Join CAA to serve a plant-based lunch at Simpson Housing Services! Simpson provides shelter to around seventy unhoused people each night, and partners with community groups to prepare meals for shelter residents. This is a wonderful way to care for our Minnesota community in an animal-friendly, eco-friendly way.

Volunteering to Help

***Without registering either below or at CAA.MN/VOLUNTEER your space will not be reserved, you will not receive needed information, and you will not be permitted in the building***

CAA provides a meal for Simpson guests around three times a month. Watch our volunteer page for another opportunity to participate! Since most of our meals at Simpson’s fill up early we encourage you to sign up for any meal prep events you are interested in well in advance.

Schedule for Lunch Volunteering

For our lunches we gather at 10:30am and together, we prepare lunch in the kitchen, and serve food to residents. Once food service comes to a lull, we take breaks in small shifts to join the residents for lunch. Afterwards, we tidy up, and everything  is usually finished by 1:00pm.

Other Notes for Volunteers

• Please dress comfortably, with closed-toe shoes.
• We expect to serve about 30 residents.
• This is a community service event; while we would explain more about CAA’s work and veganism if residents ask, it is not an outreach event.
• If you have any questions, please email Nicola at nicola.philpott@exploreveg.org or CAA staff at info@exploreveg.org.

Other Ways to Support the Program

You can also donate to support this initiative financially! Go to: https://www.givemn.org/story/6lr05f to donate and help support your neighbors who are currently experiencing housing and financial challenges.

We often partner with other environmental organizations to serve low-carbon plant-based meals, or partner with community service organizations to prep a meal together. Are you part of a local organization that may like to connect and collaborate on serving a meal? Please email CAA at info@exploreveg.org.

Appreciations

These events are the brain child of Nicola Philpott who typically organizes the events. Thank you, Nicola! Funding for these meals comes from Compassionate Action for Animals as well as special donors. Thank you to Nicola, the volunteers, our donors and partner organizations for making this service to our community possible.

Read More

For more information on this initiative read Nicola’s article in our 2025 Minnesota Veg Living Magazine.