Plant-Based
Food Drives
Collection of
cruelty-free
donations for
Chicagoland
communities.
CCC
Program
that teaches
children
about
veganism
through art,
literature and
hands-on
experiences.
Book Club
Monthly
reading and
discussion
for adults.
Sanctuary
Advocacy
Network
Volunteer
group that
supports
Midwest
sanctuaries
with food
and supply
drives, visits
and sponsor
programs.
» Visit cruelty
freeyouand
me.org for
information
about events,
volunteer
opportunities
and ways to
donate.
» Join CFY+M
on Patreon.
Select from 9
membership
tiers, ranging
from $5 to
$50 a month.
Continued from Page 13
its values align with his organization’s
purpose. “The mission
of I Grow Chicago is to
grow Englewood from striving
to thriving, using community
connections, skill-building
and opportunity,” he says. “But
more than that, I Grow Chicago
is about holistic, healthy
living, a reduction in trauma
and harm, to uplift, and if I
dare say, grow the community
in many, many ways.”
When businesses closed due
to looting and rioting following
George Floyd’s death, CFY+M
raised thousands of dollars to
buy groceries for Englewood
residents. Hauptman says this
established its ongoing partnership
with I Grow Chicago.
“We would load my car and
then deliver to them, sometimes
multiple times a week,
then repeat,” she says. “We
knew they were in a food desert
and wanted to ensure individuals
in Englewood still had
access to food and necessities
during these uncertain times.”
In addition to I Grow Chicago,
CFY+M partners with Food
CFY+M
Cruelty Free
You + Me
hosts a food
and book
drive in
December
2020 at
Handlebar
in Wicker
Park.
PHOTO BY
KATE SCOTT
Not Bombs in Humboldt Park
and Instituto del Progreso Latino
in Pilsen. Hauptman, who
left teaching in June 2020 to
commit full-time to CFY+M,
says the collaborations enable
her group to support different
communities while staying true
to its animal advocacy roots.
“We are very clear with all
partnerships that 100% of our
donations are plant-based and
cruelty-free,” she says. “We do
our best to take it a step further
and have deep, meaningful conversations
about why providing
plant-based options is important
and how it can benefit individuals.
When we started, our
goal was to provide outreach
and education about veganism
and animal rights, and we want
to make sure the educational
piece doesn’t get lost.”
Education is a top goal for the
group in 2021. Hauptman says
one focus is its Compassionate
Children of Chicago (CCC)
program that teaches children
about veganism through art,
literature and hands-on experiences.
“It is so important
to be honest and open with
children,” says Hauptman. “It
is important to give them information
and allow them to
make decisions for themselves.
People tend to get nervous
talking about (veganism with
children), but it is essential.”
Other plans for the year include
holding plant-based food
and supply drives at businesses
and events in various neighborhoods,
including Wicker Park
and Back of the Yards where
CFY+M has an established
presence. In April, the nonprofit
was at Upton’s Breakroom for
its first drive to benefit animal
sanctuaries. It also returned to
Vegan Paradise at the Plant, a
market that runs from April
through October.
Whatever CFY+M’s agenda,
Johnson is confident its impact
will be positive. “I could go on
and on about the nice things I
could say about the organization,”
says Johnson. “It’s about
making a change or making a
difference, and I believe Vick
Hauptman and Cruelty Free
You + Me make change and
bring change to whatever they
do in a positive way.” ��
Planted | 14
BY PLANTED STAFF
(KATE SCOTT CONTRIBUTED)
Dig In