Rescue volunteers are hard at work setting up the new thrift store ahead of next month’s opening. Photo: Canberra Street Cat Alliance/Facebook.
A soon-to-open thrift store is set to make a difference in the lives of Canberra’s feline residents.
The Canberra Street Cat Alliance (CSCA) was founded in 2014 to reduce street cat populations through adoption and its TNR (trapping, neutering and returning) programs.
For about a year, the alliance has been operating out of a new home in Crace, where it has leased a building once used by the CSIRO.
President Vanessa Parton said operating costs reached $200,000 in the last financial year, which was the highest on record.
To ease the burden, the alliance is opening a thrift store within its Crace home.
“As a self-funded rescue, we need to continue to improve our revenue streams,” she said.
“This just seems like it fits everything.”
The store will be called Rescued and Rehomed.
Ms Parton said calls to CSCA have been coming earlier than expected this year, as kitten season started early (when there’s an increase in the number of female cats giving birth).
“Already the requests for us – in terms of litters of kittens – are coming in. Pregnant street cats have been sighted,” she said.
“I’ve got five-week-old kittens and two-week-old kittens, as well.”
Ms Parton said profits would be used to support CSCA’s operations, including a plan to move to a home that it owns.
Once the store opens, it will operate as a traditional thrift shop, selling jewellery, DVDs, kitchenware, craft supplies, books and other items.
While they’ll also accept donations of pet items, the store won’t have an animal focus.
“Everything that you see in a thrift store, we will accept it, as long as it’s in good, clean, saleable condition,” Ms Parton said.
She said Rescued and Rehomed was inspired by a “phenomenal” garage sale CSCA held earlier this year.
“The support that we got from the Canberra public was huge,” she said.
“We had not just the cat lovers but members of the public that love a thrift store coming through.”
Since planning began, Ms Parton said CSCA members had been holding working bees to set up the store’s space.
The public can make donations at set times (advertised through Facebook) to make sure everything can be stored properly.
Ms Parton said people have already reached out to the organisation, wanting to donate.
“I think the fact that it is supporting Canberra Street Cat Alliance is appealing to a lot of the Canberra community,” she said.
“While they can’t adopt or they can’t help us trap … this is one small way that they can assist us.”
Rescued and Rehomed is set to open in October.
Canberra Street Cat Alliance’s permanent home is at 80 Bellenden Street in Crace. You can find out more (including donation drop-off times) by following its Facebook page.
