Building Connection, Compassion, and Community in 2026
In the new year, CRVN will introduce a recurring program that we are incredibly excited to share: Sanctuary Days. These gatherings will take place three to four times a year at local farmed animal sanctuaries across the Capital Region, offering our community the chance to connect with rescued animals, learn their stories, and experience firsthand the environments that allow them to heal and thrive. Sanctuary Days expand our programming in a meaningful way by placing animal advocacy at the heart of our nonprofit mission. For a vegan community, spending time with the animals we work to protect reinforces the values that brought many of us to plant-based living in the first place. These visits deepen empathy, strengthen our commitment to compassion, and remind us that veganism is not only about what we choose to eat, but the world we choose to build.
Each Sanctuary Day will invite participants to walk the grounds, meet the animals, and listen to the stories of survival and resilience shared by sanctuary staff. Whether it is brushing a rescued cow, feeding goats, or sitting quietly with a pig enjoying the sunshine, these experiences help people understand animals as individuals with personalities, preferences, and emotional lives. Sanctuaries offer a peaceful setting where visitors can reflect on their own journey and feel inspired by the safe environments that advocates fight so hard to create. In a culture that often disconnects people from the origins of their food, these moments restore a sense of clarity and reconnection. They make advocacy real, tangible, and emotionally grounding.
This program also opens opportunities for deeper engagement. Those who want to volunteer will be able to support sanctuary staff through light chores such as cleaning barns, preparing feed, tending gardens, or assisting with educational programming for visitors. Others may prefer to attend simply to learn and be present with the animals, which is equally valuable. And for those who want to give back in another way, donations will help support the sanctuaries’ ongoing work, including veterinary care, habitat maintenance, and year round safety for their residents. Whether someone chooses to volunteer, donate, or attend as a guest, every participation strengthens the sanctuaries and the animals who rely on them.
CRVN’s Sanctuary Days will become an essential part of how we carry out our mission in 2026 and beyond. By creating intentional space for animal advocacy, we bring our community closer to the roots of veganism and foster experiences that are both joyful and transformative. These events help families, individuals, and supporters reconnect with nature, find peace among the animals, and strengthen the compassionate movement we are building together in the Capital Region. We look forward to welcoming our community into these spaces, nurturing meaningful relationships with our partner sanctuaries, and continuing to grow a network built on kindness, education, and respect for all beings.
