High Falls, N.Y. -- It’s was a feast that was waiting to be devoured and while Thanksgiving is soon approaching the meal was called Thanksliving.
“They are going to have some of their very favorite foods; a variety of pumpkin pies and squashes and berries,” said Woodstock Farm Sanctuary Director of Operations Jeff Lydon.
It was for the animals that are usually the main dish, turkeys.
“In fact every turkey here would have been butchered and consumed if they hadn’t been rescued,” said Lydon.
The 10th annual event was put on by the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary which rescues and cares for animals that have been abused and or neglected. But the turkeys weren’t the only ones who got to chow down; a vegan Thanksgiving style feast was prepared for the guests.
“We have things like butternut squash arancini, we’re doing mac and cheese balls with my home made cheddar cheese and we’re doing a whole cheese station without any animal products,” said Three Brothers Vegan Café Chef Jay Astafa.
The Woodstock farm Sanctuary has 10 turkeys and 318 animals overall. All of the money raised in the fundraiser will go right back to the sanctuary.
“And we host a lot of our supporters, several hundred and of course that supports our charity work to protect these animals and the abuse they have to cope with on factory farms,” said Lydon.
They give animals a safe place where they can be included in the festivities without being on the plate.
If you would like to donate visit the sanctuary's website.