On Saturday, Jan. 25, Snapdragon Tea, located in the Brick Light District near the University of New Mexico, held a fundraiser for the Roots Animal Sanctuary. This was the second and last weekend the event was held.
Roots Animal Sanctuary, located in Tijeras, is a nonprofit that “provides a safe and loving forever home for those who have come from a difficult background,” according to its website.
The fundraiser was done in the style of Snapdragon’s frequent tea parties, where patrons can indulge in a three-course meal that is specially curated for the specific event. Reservations had to be made online in advance for the full tea party menu, and 10% of the proceeds from the tea party sales and any of Snapdragon’s vegan sandwiches purchased during the fundraiser went to Roots.
Vanessa Vesperman, who is the chef and owner of Snapdragon, said a local artist provided prints of some of the pigs at Roots, which will receive 50% of the proceeds from the sales. A portion of the profit made by a local tea leaf reader at the event will also go toward the sanctuary.
The tea party menu was curated around animals from the sanctuary. Volunteers from Roots provided information about some of the animals’ favorite foods, which is what the menu was based on.
“We have a raspberry tea cake, and that’s because Chad and Jeffrey, who are two of the donkeys, really like raspberries,” Vesperman said.
There were cards organized on the tables with pictures and information about the animals at the sanctuary, as well as QR codes that took guests to a website with more information on each animal. Guests could find portraits of the animals who inspired menu selections on these cards.
Each animal has its own story. Vesperman said the sanctuary takes in farm animal rescues.
“Some of them come in super overweight, so they help them get down to a weight where they can be mobile,” Vesperman said.
In some cases, their hooves haven't been tended well, Vesperman said, so care is essential and supported by donations.
Snapdragon has hosted fundraisers in the past, including book drives and events to raise money for local vegan organizations. In regard to how this particular event had been doing, Vesperman said the first weekend of the fundraiser was busy.
“There were so many volunteers from Roots that came to visit and hang out,” Vesperman said.
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The two organizations came together through local connections, according to Vesperman.
One cause that is important to Snapdragon is to “provide food for people with different dietary restrictions,” Vesperman said, including having vegan options available for its tea parties and in the cafe selection.
“That’s also a cause that’s important to Roots as well … we know people in the vegan community in Albuquerque, so that’s how we got connected,” Vesperman said.
Aviva Maxon, a regular at Snapdragon, spoke to the joy of the benefit tea parties the tea room holds.
“I really appreciate that they frequently do fundraisers for other organizations in the community,” she said.
Maxon also said Snapdragon curates a unique experience by brewing pairings of tea that go well together, and by steeping it for the right amount of time.
“It’s like happiness in a cup — which is how I feel every time I come here,” Maxon said.
Emmett Di Mauro is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
Elijah Ritch is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. They can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
