Need advice regarding neighbors and feral/stray cats

It's been over the last two or three years that I've seen more and more what appear to be feral cats in the neighborhood.  It was just this last fall that I found Gizmo as a feral 1 month old that was in desperate need of care.  And two siblings who were in much better shape were found the next day.  We ended up keeping Gizmo and we found a foster who took the siblings.  I would have loved to have kept the other two as well but we just don't have the funds to have that many to care for.  And at least I found out they were adopted together by a family and it seems they thankfully avoided the ringworm that Gizmo had.

It was suddenly having Gizmo and having to learn so much that led me to this site and learning about even more things than I would have expected.  Like for instance, I learned about TNR programs.  This is something now I've been interested in but I don't have the funds personally for what would be needed.  There's low cost spay and neuter but that's still $35.  And then there's also trap rentals.  The one place I've heard about is $65 to rent but you get $55 back after returning it.  I just can't afford this.  And yet I want to be able to do something.

I found that at least a couple houses in the neighborhood have been feeding ferals.   After visiting a local petsmart over the weekend and talking to some of the volunteers they suggested that I should talk to the neighbors feeding the ferals about TNR to see if they would pay for it and armed me with brochures.  I've been thinking about how to go about this though.  How do I ask people to make such expenses without offering money towards it myself?  I suppose I have already actually considering how much we've spent on Gizmo.  But I don't know if that will really be seen as something that counts towards this.  Also, I'm wondering if they might react negatively to the ear being clipped.  There's this particularly beautiful pair of white pointed "twins" which it would be especially useful for especially if they are only caught one at a time.  Despite being caught and neutered/spayed being better for their wellbeing I can't help to wonder if the neighbors will dislike that aspect of it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  I also have anxiety when speaking to people to begin with and I don't feel like I can often convey my thoughts very well.  So I'm just feeling very nervous about how to approach this.

Is there another neighbor who can go with you to discuss the situation?  I can't imagine you are the only one who's noticed all the cats.  It is always nerve-wracking to approach people, especially if you aren't sure how they'll take the information you have.

Or perhaps someone from the low-cost clinic can go with you.  Our SPCA will send personnel to discuss situations like this when they are notified.  Maybe the clinic/TNR program has something like that.

One way you can help is by volunteering with the clinic/TNR program.  I bet money they need help with trapping, fostering and on surgery days.  It will also help you make contacts.  Its wonderful that they are working so closely with PetSmart.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure if there's anyone else I could go with. 

I would actually like to do something to help with the program itself though if nothing else.  I'm not sure if I'd be able to volunteer with a fixed schedule but I did ask for a sheet of things that they need help with so I could look over it.  I still need to do that.  Unfortunately, I don't think I could do fostering.  I'm not sure if they pay fully for the animal's care but beyond that I cried for weeks after giving Gizmo's siblings to a foster.  And I didn't even have them that long.  I just don't think I can do that on a regular basis.  

I know what you mean,  Fostering is tough and not being able to give them up is the reason I have eight cats!

But there is something you can do.  Feeding especially is such a needed job.  Hope you find something.

And talk to them about getting someone to go with you.

Unfortunately, I can't afford to feed much to the feral cats.  A couple neighbors do though.  However, as mentioned in another thread, I'm going to try to trap a black mother cat with her kittens on the back porch so we can hopefully tame the kittens and get her spayed.  So I will be feeding her for probably a couple weeks. 

I did end up talking to a couple of the neighbors though about TNR.  One did agree to put $5 or $10 towards getting at least this black female fixed and she might for others, too.  I think people will be more behind at least catching the females and getting them spayed so I'm thinking I'll have to focus on them first.  I'd love it though if the same could be done for the boys, too, though.  One of the other neighbors that feeds them said she'd be able to help if there was a free service.  She already helps with taking in dogs.  They do however have a family member that has live traps that I could borrow though which is a great help.

Oh, that's great!  Yes, definitely get the females done first.  Work on the males as you can.

When I mentioned feeding, I meant the actual work.  Many caretakers are able to get food at their local shelter, depending on how their attitude about ferals is.

I have one friend who has a standing birthday/holiday list is food or gift cards to PetSmart/Petco!

With your neighbors, this sounds like this is going to be a cooperative effort.  Kudos to you all!