Veronica Coit, Asheville Cat Weirdos

Veronica Coit, a full-time hairdresser who is married with two children, calls herself a "cat lady for life." She spearheads the Asheville Cat Weirdos, a Facebook group that she started in 2016. That group has now grown to almost 9,000 members, all from the greater Asheville, North Carolina area. The group has also grown from simply being a place for cat lovers to converse to a full-fledged 501(c)3 organization with multiple programs to help local cat owners in need keep their beloved pets. Programs include an emergency fund to cover the cost of veterinary bills, the "Cat Pantry" (a cat food pantry that also carries litter and flea and worm treatments), and a spay/neuter incentive program. The group has a full board of directors, and a number of volunteers who make these programs happen. Veronica, who has some personal experience with what it's like to be working and yet still not be able to afford needed veterinary care, is thrilled at what the Asheville Cat Weirdos have accomplished in just a few short years. She tells Stacy that it is a community of people who truly care about each other, and who are working to help each other. To learn more, visit the Asheville Cat Weirdos website or, if you're in the Asheville area, join their Facebook page. You can also visit their Emergency Fund Facebook page, their Cat Pantry Facebook page, or you can follow @ashevillecatweirdoson Instagram.