Meet our volunteers: Krista Hopko

As a non-profit organization and registered charity that receives no government funding, Regina Cat Rescue (RCR) relies heavily on fundraising to help care for Regina’s abandoned cats and kittens. Our fundraising team is always busy working bingos, holding sales of every variety (book, food, calendar, tea, etc.) and hosting fundraising events - raising over $46,000 last year!

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Krista Hopko is a volunteer with the RCR fundraising team and foster program. She works as an armed guard with an armored truck company, and enjoys spending time kayaking, hiking and camping. She has always loved having pets in her home, so she felt it would be a good fit to volunteer with RCR.

How long have you been involved with the Regina Cat Rescue?
It's tough to remember how many years I've been with RCR, but I would guess that it's been around six years or so. I volunteered with the group back when it was known as People for Animals.

What motivates you to continue volunteering with RCR?
I enjoy being part of a group of people that helps make the lives of cats better. RCR has helped me meet a lot of new people that all share one common interest: cats.

What types of RCR fundraising activities have you been involved with?
In the past, I have helped out at various events, including The World's Biggest Garage Sale, bartending out at Craven, a book sale, a bingo, the RCR booth at the Cathedral Village Arts Festival fair, steak nights, and a catalogue fundraiser. I also enjoy helping to collect items that get used in our various silent auctions.

What's your favourite RCR fundraiser that you have participated in?
My favourite fundraiser was when I volunteered at the World's Biggest Garage Sale. It was an event where various people and groups had tables of garage sale items up for sale. I was helping out at the Regina Cat Rescue booth (back then it was People for Animals). I started chatting with another RCR volunteer and we found out that we lived near each other, so we decided that we could meet up for walks. Years later, this awesome woman is still a great friend of mine.

What is the most rewarding part about being a member of the RCR fundraising team?
The most rewarding part is knowing that I'm part of a team that helps to raise money that gets used to help animals in need. I love hearing success stories from people that have adopted an RCR cat.

You also volunteer with RCR’s foster program. What is the most rewarding part about fostering cats?
The most rewarding part of fostering is when I get to watch a cat change over time and eventually get adopted into a loving home. My current foster cat, Jazzy, was very shy when he first came to my place. Every little noise would spook him (even the sound of the squeaky couch). I helped get him used to the things that frightened him and he has blossomed into a more confident cat. He's been in foster care with RCR for numerous years, but I'm hoping that this will be the year that he finds his forever home.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering with RCR?
I would tell them to give it a try. There's such a variety of volunteer opportunities, so there's always a spot to utilize and help develop your skills!

- Interview by Madeline Bates

If you're interested in helping out with the RCR fundraising team, check out the volunteer job description here and complete the volunteer application.