About Us
What is Chilis on Wheels?
Our Beginnings
Our Mission
Chilis on Wheels works to make plant-based food and veganism accessible to communities in need through direct food relief, policy advocacy, education, and mentorship. We provide networks of support and build strong empowered communities within the areas that we serve, as we work with groups offering food to the community, to transition their offerings to plant-based meals. We also rescue food to combat food waste and its environmental impact.
Our Culture
We believe in treating all living beings with kindness, empathy, and respect regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, ability, ethnicity, class, circumstance, environment, level of addiction, or species. Because of this, we do not turn away anyone in need of our assistance and consider all beings and the land in our advocacy and initiatives.
Our Vision
Chilis on Wheels believes that an empowered community is key in dismantling systematic inequalities that prevent veganism from being attainable by poor and low-income communities. We believe that those most impacted by injustice should be at the center of shaping policy and at the center of decisions that address injustice. Through our networks of support, we’re collectively building alternate systems to make veganism accessible to the areas that we serve.
Our Services
With the goal of making plant-based food and veganism accessible to communities in need, all of the services our networks offer are free of charge to people in need.
Meal Shares
Through our regularly scheduled meal shares, we provide plant-based food to anyone in need of a warm meal. While chili was our first meal, we offer a wide range of culturally diverse, plant-based meal options to best cater to communities. We also offer allergy-friendly plant-based meals.
Workshops
Upon request, we provide workshops for the members of our communities. From food demos to talks on food justice, we’ll work with your organization, faith center, community center, school, or group in whatever way we can.
Clothing Drives
During our clothing drives, we provide free weather-appropriate, animal-free clothing in good conditions to anyone in need.
Free Store
Our Free Store offers animal-free toiletries, sleeping bags, and a variety of other objects upon request.
Vegan Dog Food
Contrary to popular belief, dogs are actually omnivores- making meat-free diets appropriate for canines. Because of this, we provide free vegan dog food for our clients with dogs upon request.
Mentorship
We offer a free, 21 day program which includes daily informative emails, a full cost-effective meal plan, and a mentor of a similar background.
Microsanctuary
With millions of farmed animals being exploited, we provide a space where animal liberation is possible.
Network
We work with groups providing food to the community, to transition their food offerings to plant-based meals. Please get in touch if you are interested in adding plant-based meals to your menus.
Special Events
From movie nights to holiday celebrations, we host a wide range of events for the communities we work with.
What is Veganism?
A vegan does not use, wear, or eat animals or animal products, or products that have been tested or are dependent on the exploitation of animals. Although there are many reasons to go vegan, the following are some of the most common:
for the animals
for the planet
for the people
for justice
All beings want to live, love, and be free. Veganism ensures that animals are not exploited through the commodification of their bodies and body-secretions. On dairy farms, mother cows are immediately separated from their newborns and forced provide milk to farmers rather than their calves. In factory farms, egg-laying hens are crammed into filthy cages- unable to move or spread their wings. These are only a few of the many injustices that farm animals experience on a daily basis. All animals have the right to freedom.
Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of climate change. Methane gas, land clearing needed for grazing, animal waste seeping into waterways are only a few of the awful environmental side-effects of animal agriculture. Factory farming has significant impacts on poor and BIPGM (Black, Indigenous, and People of the Global Majority) communities in the United States, both environmentally and socially. The placement of factory farms in BIPGM and poor communities is a form of environmental racism. Almost all animal products in the U.S. come from factory farms.
A whole food plant-based diet helps reduce your risk for developing certain cancers, and lower your blood pressure which helps reduce your chance of heart-related illnesses while supporting your immune system. Type 2 diabetes is entirely preventable, and plenty of research suggests a plant-based diet can help ward off the disease.
Animal agriculture consistently oppresses communities of color. Factory farms are often located in poor communities, polluting the air and water, driving property costs down, and taking tax breaks instead of contributing to a town. Slaughterhouse and processing-plant workers, mostly people of color are some of the most exploited workers, routinely denied health care, living wages, union opportunities, and enduring hostile and physically dangerous working environments.
Give Today
We do not receive federal, state, or city funding. We are a mostly volunteer-led organization funded by your generous support. Please click below to make a secure, 100% tax-deductible donation.
Donate Today
Donate Animal-Free Items
If you’d like to donate clothing, personal care items, and food products, please click email us at info@chilisonwheels.org to set up a pick-up or delivery.
