Published: November 13, 2026
Cotton Branch Refuge Project encourages choices that extend compassion beyond our gates. We apply that principle to food and purchasing for our own activities, while welcoming people who are learning and taking different first steps. This policy concerns organizational decisions and resources.
Food we purchase and serve
Food purchased or served by Cotton Branch for human consumption at our activities should be plant-based. Plan menus, catering, refreshments, and organizational food reimbursements accordingly, and communicate the expectation before an event or purchase. Ask sponsors and food donors to support the same standard.
Consider allergies, accessibility, culture, cost, and nutritional needs when planning food. Provide clear ingredient information where available and avoid making unsupported allergy-safety guarantees. Discuss individual dietary accommodations with the responsible leader rather than making someone explain private medical information publicly.
Participation does not require someone to identify as vegan or to have already changed every personal habit. Encourage learning with respect, without shaming, policing private lives, or using a person's diet as a substitute for assessing their conduct or suitability for a role.
Purchasing beyond food
When choosing clothing, equipment, supplies, gifts, and promotional products, consider animal welfare, labor practices, environmental impact, durability, repair, reuse, accessibility, and total cost. Prefer suitable products without animal-derived materials and products that have credible cruelty-free or animal-testing information. Check the basis of a claim rather than assuming a label is independently verified.
Use what we already have responsibly when continued use avoids waste and does not compromise safety or welfare. Seek practical alternatives as items need replacement. Do not claim that every supplier, product component, or legacy item meets a certification we have not verified.
Essential care, safety, and accommodations
Residents' nutritional and medical needs take priority. Animal diets, medicines, veterinary products, safety equipment, and disability-related or medical accommodations may require products that do not fit the human food or purchasing preference. Decisions must be based on actual need and qualified advice where appropriate.
Where a suitable alternative is unavailable, unaffordable within a necessary timeframe, unsafe, or inconsistent with veterinary or medical advice, the authorized leader may approve a proportionate exception and document the reason. Do not delay essential treatment or compromise safety to avoid an exception. Staff do not evaluate or restrict an individual's personal medical treatment.
Events, partners, and communication
Explain our food and purchasing standards to vendors and partners early. Review proposed sponsorships, branded products, and event arrangements for consistency with our mission under the Ethical Fundraising & Gift Acceptance Policy. Do not imply that a partnership certifies every practice of another organization.
Our public communications should describe actual practices and limitations honestly. We can advocate for compassionate change while recognizing that availability, resources, and individual circumstances vary. Read our Compassionate Choices page for the values behind this approach.
Responsibility and review
People making organizational purchases are responsible for following approvals, documenting reasonable choices, and raising uncertainty before committing funds. Leadership reviews recurring exceptions and seeks better alternatives as resources allow. Questions or accommodation requests may be sent to info@cottonbranch.org. Concerns can also use our protected reporting routes.