I'm not sure when exactly it dawned on me, but I'd guess it was in front of the highchair that my daughter was just old enough to sit in. I realized that I did not personally know one other vegetarian. I'd been vegan for ten years and this had never bothered me before, but now that I had two of us to think about, it did!
Clementine had been breastfed since she was born one May evening in our bedroom. I hadn't really thought of her being a vegetarian until it was time to introduce solids. My Mother's advice no longer sufficed. I rushed out and bought all the books that I could find on vegetarian kids. The selection was disappointingly sparse. I pored over the few books that were available. Okay, I knew what to feed her, but how were other veg moms doing "it".
It was then that I decided to start The Vegetarian Kids Group. I typed up a flier and posted it everywhere I went in San Diego. I picked a date for a "playgroup/social" at my house. Ten people showed up. I was pleased. A year later we have over 60 families and are growing every month.
The Vegetarian Kids Group has provided me with a best friend whose vegetarian daughter is the same age as Clementine, countless vegetarian playmates for my daughter and vegetarian men my husband can relate to, since they're fathers also! Our group is still in its infancy, but I have learned so much, so fast. Here's some advice if you want to set up a Vegetarian Kids Group in your town.
Decide Which Age Group
Our group has 0-12 year-olds, and this is a wide range. We have monthly pot-lucks with activities for older kids and plenty of toys and floor space for babies and toddlers. We also started a biweekly toddler playgroup. I'd recommend targeting your own children's age group. Toddler groups tend to be more "for" the parents, because the kids play separately most of the time and parents are new to raising veg kids, and need support and advice from other parents. Older children need more focus on them, and the parents have very different issues, such as school lunches, birthday party burger nightmares, etc. For the older kids groups, you will need to provide activities such as informal soccer matches or vegetarian themed games.
Advertise
Originally I posted my flier at the post office, library, just about everywhere I went. The ONLY place I received responses was from natural food stores. So save yourself the effort and post your fliers there, on bulletin boards or in the food co-op newsletter. We also announce potlucks in the calendar of the food section in the city- wide newspaper. It's free, and tons of people read it. Another great way to get the word out is to reserve a table at an Earth Day event or some other animal/food related festival. Have games, like a vegetable bean bag toss; and get businesses to donate prizes, like veggie or fruit stickers. You can start a website, if you're computer literate.
Organize Events>
One word: "POTLUCKS" ! They are easy on the wallet, and the food is so divine! This is not your "bag of chips and salsa" potluck crowd; these people really cook. Moms, entice your husbands to attend the weekend potlucks for the food alone! Use themes: We have had Mexican food for a Mexican "Day of the Dead" Potluck in October, all green or Irish food for St. Patrick's day, all red or pink food for Valentines, etc. Specify that all food should be vegan so everyone can enjoy it. To be "green" have people bring their own place settings. Meet in parks during the summer and rotate homes in the winter. All events should be in the daytime, and of course, try to avoid typical nap hours.
Plan Special Events
Get a speaker to come to town to speak to the group. (You'll need a medium-sized group for this, but not as many people as you would think are needed to entice an author to come to town. E, especially if they live nearby.) Organize a camping trip and roast tofu dogs over an open fire! For older kids get group rate tickets to museums, amusement parks, etc. Have a vegan potluck picnic while there. Or have a video screening of "Babe" or "Charlotte's Web" and serve popcorn and soy butter.
Handle Logistics
It will cost money to mail out notices to your group as it grows. Use a donation jar or join up with another organization. Our group has a partnership with Earthsave San Diego, they help defray some of the costs. Mail out a calendar of events every four months to save on postage costs. Get e-mail addresses and e-mail the calendar to save on postage.
Encourage Participation
Call people a few days before an event to remind them. This doubles attendance! It's worth the time. Get the regulars to participate by helping with calls, hosting a potluck or a playgroup.
Know Your Goals
As the person behind the group, know what you want out of it and stick to that. If you want a small playgroup for your kids, then keep it small. My goals were twofold. One, to create a vegetarian "world" around my child and for her to form lasting friendships with vegetarian kids from that "world". Second I wanted to contribute to the larger vegetarian community.
I never would have thought I'd be running an organization of 120 parents and 80+ kids. It's a blast! I think calling vegetarian parents and kids out from the scattered winds and uniting them together for food and fun is a tremendous contribution to the vegetarian movement and to the earth itself. Starting a vegetarian kids group is easier than you think!
--Carinne Senske founded the enormously popular San Diego Vegetarian Kids Group. Visit her website.
