This January we’re celebrating Katy Alkins-Jang, a volunteer driver who spends her time on the road ensuring kitties and their many supplies get where they need to go.

Here Katy tells us in her own words why she volunteers with VOKRA:

How did you start volunteering with VOKRA?

I signed up to volunteer with VOKRA in March of 2020 just as the pandemic was really becoming serious and we were headed into lockdown. I saw a news article about how charities and not-for-profits were hunting for volunteers and I was looking for something I could do safely and with a certain amount of flexibility as I was also serving on another board at the time.

In what capacity are you volunteering and what do you do in this role?

I volunteer as a driver. In my role I’m responsible for picking up and transporting both cats and supplies between VOKRA’s Operations Centre, fosters or vets.

What’s your favourite part of volunteering?

Seeing all the kittens and cats VOKRA has rescued from a variety of situations and placed with fosters or adopters so they can lead their best life.

Do you have a favourite kitty you’ve met or a favourite story from your time with VOKRA?

My favorite kitty story happened back at the beginning of my volunteering. My husband and I were at the Queensborough Lowes and as we were leaving I noticed a beautiful Siamese on the side of the road by the Starlight Casino sign. There was nowhere to turn around, but I went down later to see if I could find the kitty. I ended up speaking with security who said the cat had been dumped earlier in the year and folks had been feeding him, but with the casino closed due to COVID he was now on his own. They were surprised the coyotes had not killed him yet. I contacted Janet, one of the VOKRA trappers, and we went down to put out a trap and feeding station. Janet went down a second time and as she was waiting he showed up and walked into the trap! He has since been neutered, fostered and adopted. He was named “Starlight” after the casino.

Here’s what Jennine Kariya, rescue centre coordinator, has to say about Katy:

"Katy’s a great choice for Volunteer of the Month! She steps up so often for a variety of driving shifts and she’s always very friendly and pleasant to interact with! We really appreciate her."

THANK YOU Katy for all the time you spend driving around the Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley in service to the kitties! We appreciate all your efforts.

As a volunteer-driven non-profit, we clearly couldn’t do what we do without our extremely dedicated and hardworking team of volunteers. Thank you to each and every one of you!

VOKRA’s always in need of volunteers. If you’re interested in volunteering click here.

Volunteer of the Month: January 2022

Info

Action