I’ve been trying to find the time and the words to write this post, and have finally decided to write it. I don’t know if I can write this eloquently, but I will just write from the heart.
I’ve been running KittyCat Fixers now for just over 4 years, since the start of 2015. When I took over, it was easy, I was not working and had all the time in the world. And I loved it. Then I had to work. I needed to be able to afford a roof over my head and provide for my two children as I am a single mother. Just in case people don’t know KittyCat Fixers is unpaid volunteer work. I’m not like the SPCA where the charity pays salaries to its volunteers.
Luckily I was able to work part time – and had two days a week to put into my charity work. This went well and I was able to still fundraise, apply for grants and process applications in a timely manner.
Then my employment needed me for an extra day and that is when I started to find it a struggle. Jump forward to 2019 and I have switched jobs and am now working full time, 5 days a week, as my youngest turned 18 and I have lost a source of income and now solely rely on my paid employment. One income.
I have been struggling juggling full time work, the charity, my KittyCat gift store – that was supposed to help me fundraise to free up time. I ran into problems with that as it is a dropshipping business, which means items ship direct from my suppliers. I was picking up momentum selling a few items on Trademe – until one customer whom let their child use their trademe account complained that their child had not received their item – I had clearly stipulated on my listings the estimated delivery time and on all order/invoice emails. So Trademe stopped me from selling – unless I had a high frequency of orders. It would take me years to get the amount of orders they required – as KittyCat gifts is a small niche market.
Anyways, I have moved past that and now just process one or two orders a month from the website, and rebuilding my momentum organically. To add to this – I have had some issues in my personal life – and I don’t want to go into too much details – as it is personal and involves my child and crisis unit. But, it has been a real emotional rollercoster ride – that has been mentally taxing. Trying to keep it together has been really hard. Having to be strong constantly. Always holding back tears when you feel like falling apart on the inside.
This is why I have decided to take a break from the charity – and take some time to breathe. Of course I still have to work (boo). Which in a ideal world, I would much prefer to run my charity full time. And if it could afford to pay me, I would jump at that opportunity. I have only ever applied for one salary grant and that got denied and I have not applied for one again. The charity over the years has helped with a few expenses to get me by. But not a salary where I can give up my day job.
I love KittyCat Fixers and do not want to give it up. I still wish for that winning lotto ticket every week. Dreams are free eh.
I will take a break until early next year. I will over this time, see if I can find time mentally to apply for grants for salary – and hope to get lucky. I will also brainstorm how I can keep working full time and running the charity – I obviously prefer the later more – as it is more rewarding. Plus I can spend some time fixing the website as a few things got broken when I recently just migrated webhosts.
Donation repayments and regular donations will continue to accumulate. The only expenses going out is out Monthly Xero subscription( which I will continue staying on top of accounts) and MS Office – I can’t think of anything else right now off the top of my head.
In the meantime I suggest if you need help with desexing your cat, you check out the SPCA, Humane Society and Help someone desex their pet
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
