Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series examining a recent community adoption event hosted in partnership with Ace’s Sanctuary & Cat Rescue and the broader work behind the organization’s mission. Part One explores the event and the day-to-day realities of rescue work, while Part Two will cover the deeper challenges, adoption stories and long-term commitment involved in placing cats into permanent homes.

A local nonprofit, which relies on volunteers and community support, recently opened its mission to the public, giving residents a chance to meet cats up close and learn what rescue work actually requires.

The event, hosted in partnership with the Richmond News and Ace’s Sanctuary & Cat Rescue, invited community members to visit the newspaper office, meet adoptable cats and learn more about the realities of rescue work.

Ace’s Sanctuary & Cat Rescue is a local fosterbased organization, focusing on caring for and rehoming cats, often taking in animals needing addi…