Animal Ark II Fundraiser – All You Can Eat Chili, Great Org, Great people, Great food.

This past Tuesday night Animal Ark II had an All You Can Eat Chili fundraiser and memorial for Mark Karbusicky at Sadie’s Diner (504 Adelaide Street W, Toronto, ON).

Animal Ark II is a Toronto based, direct action animal advocacy organization. I remember their display at the the Vegetarian Food Fair back in September, they were the first animal rights organization I encountered since arriving in Toronto.

I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Mark Karbusicky, but he was a film maker, activist and from what I read about him,  an all around amazing person and friend. There is also documentary on his life that won Best Feature Documentary at The Accolade Competition in La Jolla, CA in 2010. Mark had actively supported feral cat rescue programs, so I thought it was great that the organizers were also collecting donations of cat food for a local feral resuce in honor of him.

And now for the food! There was a ten dollar suggested donation for all you can eat chili and tortilla chips, baked goods by donation, and little yummy things here and there. I love chili, and tortilla chips, and fundraisers for worthy causes, so it was perfect. One of the ARKII Volunteers made these freaking yummy cornbread muffin type things, and I’m pretty sure I want more (i.e., I should really get on making some cornbread.) Plus there were different cupcakes, including a couple of gluten free options, which surprise surprise were freaking tasty. Gluten free, you’ve come a long way baby.

Any local veg event I’ve been to has offered up some great food and snacks, so if you get the opportunity, it’s definitely worth checking ANY of them out while supporting great local causes.

So, hint hint, there is of course, part two of the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale going on at the Toronto Vegetarian Association Resource Center (2nd fl, 17 Baldwin St) this weekend (on Saturday, April 30th 2011) between 1-4pm.