How’s this for a lesson plan?
Students at TDH Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, learned how to show compassion during holidays like Thanksgiving when they dug into a turkey-free “ThanksVegan” lunch, courtesy of teacher Na’ Robertson and TeachKind, PETA’s humane education division.
A mouthwatering vegan roast was the star entrée on a menu that featured a sumptuous spread of vegan sides, including dairy-free mac and cheese donated by local restaurant KraVegan. The students’ families will get a taste, too: The kids took home ready-to-roast vegan turkeys for their holiday table.
Vegan roasts spare birds immense suffering—turkeys can live for as long as 10 years, but those raised for food are slaughtered when they’re only a few months old—and they’re free of harmful animal fat and cholesterol.
Robertson also helped students understand the ThanksVegan connection with a round of activities that included reading ‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving, a sweet story about a group of kids who rescue a flock of turkeys ahead of the holiday.
“Young people love animals, and they’d be horrified to learn about the fear and pain that around 45 million turkeys endure each year before ending up on a Thanksgiving table,” says PETA Senior Director of Youth Programs Marta Holmberg. “TeachKind was delighted to give TDH students an opportunity to spare turkeys and share humane, healthy vegan roasts with their loved ones.”
Follow the example of these kind students and celebrate compassionately! You can request our free ThanksVegan guide here. And use these helpful prayers to include animals when your family says grace.
