The Little Coin That Continues to #GiveHope

A few days ago, I returned from another trip to the Ukraine. As you read this, please understand that this isn’t a corporate report filled with numbers and statistics (though we can provide those), but something written from the heart—my heart.

I had a goal, to deliver food to the animal centre opened by Olena in Mykolaiv, and a place where I could meet the vulnerable animals with special needs, animals we at ROLDA helped provide aid for, many injuries I had seen only from photographs but now I get to see the recovery myself in person.

I take these journeys often, and part of the journey is delayed at customs.
I came prepared with food and water, knowing customs delays are common. I brought my own provisions to avoid unnecessary stops along the way.

I crossed the Danube at Isaccea and headed to the Palanka checkpoint, where they checked the car again. The next military checkpoint was in Odessa, where sirens repeatedly warned of an air attack. I watched how people behaved, and it’s incredible how war has changed them. Two years ago, at the start of the war, the roads were empty, with hardly any cars or people. Now, people ignore the siren warnings; they park their cars, go shopping, eat at restaurants, walk their dogs, and visit the beaches. They have adapted to living with the war in their daily lives in a way that you must see to truly understand.

The road from Odesa to Mykolaiv had several military checkpoints. The road became very bumpy because of the heavy trucks and military vehicles, although it wasn’t bombed. You could see military defense systems along the road, in the fields, and in the water. The rough roads and chaotic traffic reminded me of home. The round trip was approximately 1000 km.
When I arrived, Olena and her team welcomed me with such warmth and love. Firstly, we unloaded all the food from my car, and then Olena proudly showed me around the center.
As Olena doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Ukrainian, we both decided to use a translation app on our phones. She would speak on her phone, and the app translated her words into English for me to read or hear. I would then type my responses, which the app translated back into Ukrainian. Although this took a little while, it allowed us to communicate well together.

At one point, I saw a coin on the floor. I placed it in Olena’s hand and told her something she would likely never forget: “Back home, I was told that every time you find a coin, you should pick it up because if it’s in your way, it means that someone from Heaven is thinking of you.” I didn’t know her story then, but after learning about her life, I knew the coin held significant meaning for her.

Olena started her organization in memory of her lost family. Her husband died unexpectedly in 2014, leaving her without the will to live. Her grandmother and the animals she rescued gave her life new meaning. Then sadly, she recently lost her grandmother, and now the animals are all she has. Her animal centre is an old building with a basement converted into a small shelter for dogs and cats, a storage room, and two small spaces—one for staff and one for their quarantine area. Despite the challenges of inconsistent water and electricity, Olena does whatever she can to ensure the animals in her care have a future.

As part of ROLDA’s support for #UkraineAnimals, we provide ongoing grants to rescuers and organizations who we partner with. We have supported Olena and learned about Leo, a tomcat, and Lucky, who is a special dog, both of whom we’ve sent money for in the past. It was moving in an incredible way to finally see and interact with them. Lucky was left paralyzed after being hit by a car. Animals with special needs require dedicated care, which is difficult to provide during wartime. Making the decision to put a dog to sleep is challenging, but it should always be guided by what is best for the animal’s well-being. Seeing Lucky’s joy and smile, I understood why Olena found it hard to make that decision.

Leo, the rescued tomcat, is recovering after almost losing his life. Given these extraordinary circumstances, we should avoid judgment and make sure to ideally isolate and quarantine animals. In normal times, I would hope for Olena to have a shelter where animals could enjoy sunlight, fresh air, and spacious enclosures. Quarantine areas should have separate areas for dogs and cats, and good ventilation to help reduce the risk of spreading disease. Animals with special needs deserve a chance to thrive when given appropriate medical care and attention.

I was thrilled when Olena suggested I could walk Lucky. It was heartwarming to see how happy he was. Despite the hot day making him tired, he kept moving with his cart, only pausing briefly for a hug.

Leaving the center and saying goodbye to Lucky was bittersweet. Olena and her team graciously showed me around their town, or what remained of it. Rockets damaged many buildings, affecting not just structures but families and lives. In the central plaza, the Ukrainian people displayed captured Russian tanks and vehicles to lift their spirits.
Despite warnings about floating mines, people continued their lives by the river, at the beach, and in the water.

Before I left, Olena showed me the coin I had given her when I arrived and said she would cherish it always. It’s remarkable how we create machines to destroy each other and yet find small ways, like the meaning of a coin, to keep hope alive. Every trip to Ukraine reveals something new. Though I wasn’t near the battle zone this time, I met people dedicated to a cause I deeply care about: animals.