ELKHART, Ind. (AP) — A local group is trying to raise $51,000 toward opening a feral cat emergency housing center.

Leaders of the Elkhart County Feral Cat Coalition say that all its work is now done out of volunteers’ homes, including housing sick stray cats, recently neutered and spayed cats and injured cats.

Coalition president Chris Bralick tells The Elkhart Truth the group lacks adequate space to handle more than about 20 spayed or neutered cats a week, especially during the winter.

The group has started a Go Fund Me page for fundraising and also is seeking grants and corporate sponsorships.

Bralick says the coalition also wants to start a food bank program to provide caregivers with food for the wild cats in their areas.