A fully vegan Midwest may sound like an ambitious idea, especially with a deadline attached. But Project Animal Freedom believes it’s possible.
The St. Louis-based nonprofit is aiming for a fully vegan Midwest by 2056, starting with efforts to grow the vegan community here. The organization is creating opportunities to try vegan food, meet others in the community, learn about animal advocacy, and find ways to get involved.
This year alone, Project Animal Freedom plans to organize more than 70 vegan events across the metro area, ranging from its popular STL Vegan Market and community potlucks to educational programs, outreach, and fundraisers.
For Troy Stoffey, one of those events became his introduction to a community that he had been searching for. “I felt alone, like I was the odd one out,” Stoffey says. “I really wanted to find a community.”
Then, about a year after going vegan, he attended a fish-free fish fry and started volunteering. Stoffey went on to become Project Animal Freedom’s Volunteer of the Year in 2025 and now serves as its St. Louis coordinator.
Today, Stoffey is helping more St. Louisans make the connections that he once was seeking.
What does a vegan community actually look like?
A vegan event in St. Louis might mean advocating for animals one weekend or sharing a meal with new friends the next.
Project Animal Freedom organizes protests, outreach, and educational programs, as well as potlucks, social events, and the STL Vegan Market. Stoffey says members often grab a meal together after an afternoon of advocacy, giving them time to connect beyond the work itself.
Through Project Animal Freedom, Stoffey has met artists, writers, and people from a wide range of backgrounds he may not have had the chance to meet before.
“Being an advocate takes community,” Stoffey says. “Those relationships help keep you motivated to continue.”
STL Vegan Market has become one of the largest examples of the community coming together. The recurring 100 percent-vegan market features local vendors and plenty of food and picnic areas where visitors can grab something to eat, stay awhile, and get to know others in the community. Stoffey says some markets have attracted more than 1,000 people, including visitors from Illinois and across the St. Louis metro area.
“The market really brings people together,” Stoffey says. “People come from all over the St. Louis region just to spend time with the community.”
Those connections can continue through VeganSTL, Project Animal Freedom’s local platform for discovering vegan restaurants, businesses, events, and ways to get involved.
You don’t have to be vegan to join
Project Animal Freedom also wants its events to provide people with an easy way to explore veganism, even if they’re simply curious about getting involved.
Welcoming people with different backgrounds and experiences is an important part of growing the community, says founder and executive director Kyle Luzynski. “We try to engage people on all levels and from all backgrounds,” Luzynski says. “Anyone and everyone can do something to help animals.”
Upcoming events give people plenty of ways to jump in, with options ranging from trivia and Halloween festivities to a full Thanksgiving dinner:
- Vegan Trivia Night, October 19: Test your knowledge of vegan pop culture, history, and the local vegan scene while enjoying a potluck, live jazz, a silent auction, and vegan cake. The night also celebrates Project Animal Freedom’s eighth anniversary.
- Vegan Halloween Party and Chili Cook Off, October 24: Head to Laumeier Sculpture Park for more than a dozen vegan chilis, a costume contest, desserts, and a vegan trunk or treat. Tickets are free, with donations encouraged.
- Vegan Hip Hop Party, November 1: Celebrate World Vegan Day at Adina’s Vegan Cuisine with a live DJ, vegan food, drinks, and vendors. The event was created by the Red Black and Vegan Podcast and highlights St. Louis’ Black vegan community.
- Vegan Day at Randy’s Rescue Ranch, November 8: Spend the afternoon at Randy’s Rescue Ranch, a 20-acre sanctuary in O’Fallon, Illinois, founded by Stray Rescue’s Randy Grim, for its first-ever fall festival featuring local vendors offering vegan food, treats, and goods, along with opportunities to get up close with rescued horses, pigs, cows, hospice dogs, and barn cats.
- Vegan Karaoke Night, November 13: Take the mic at Hidden Gem STL for an evening of karaoke, an open mic session, Pizza Head pizza, and cocktails while celebrating St. Louis’ vegan community.
- Vegan Thanksgiving Feast, November 23: Project Animal Freedom’s third annual feast at Adina’s Vegan Cuisine serves a full vegan holiday dinner with roast, cornbread dressing, mac and cheese, collard greens, candied yams, and apple peach cobbler.
The calendar continues throughout November as part of STL VegMonth, with free online classes, potlucks, volunteer opportunities, and other events for people at different stages of their vegan journey.
The road to a vegan Midwest by 2056
One of Project Animal Freedom’s biggest upcoming efforts is STL VegMonth, which aims to reach more than 250,000 St. Louisans and encourage at least 2,000 people to try eating vegan. Luzynski estimates that the campaign will require roughly $14,000–$17,000, with donations helping fund the campaign and expand its reach across St. Louis. Those interested in supporting what Project Animal Freedom calls St. Louis’ largest vegan campaign ever can contribute to the Animal Freedom Fund. Project Animal Freedom’s work is proudly supported by Carol House Furniture.
Financial support is only one way to contribute. Project Animal Freedom also relies on volunteers to staff markets, represent the organization at local events, and introduce more people to its work, even if they only have a couple of hours to give. Those ready to take a more active role can apply to join Project Animal Freedom’s volunteer team and help support its work across St. Louis.
Each event is also a chance for someone to find a community they may not have known was waiting for them.
“I want people to leave more connected and motivated to keep advocating for animals,” Stoffey says.
A fully vegan Midwest by 2056 may be the vision, but getting there depends on what happens much sooner. Every new volunteer, event attendee, and supporter gives Project Animal Freedom another opportunity to grow the vegan community starting right here in St. Louis.
How much do you know about vegan ingredients? Take the quiz and be entered to win a $100 restaurant gift card
Take VeganSTL’s short educational quiz below and be entered to win a $100 gift card to Bombay Food Junkies, Seedz Cafe, or Adina’s Vegan Cuisine. Three winners will be randomly selected. Just for entering, you’ll get access to VeganSTL’s directory and map of plant-based restaurants in St. Louis.
Giveaway runs through December 10, 2026. Good luck!
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of Vegan STL. Want to get involved? Visit VeganSTL.com and ProjectAnimalFreedom.org to find upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and other ways to support St. Louis’ vegan community.
