The idea of actually being able to make a difference for one person, and the love for dogs, that is what made Elpida.
It was via Facebook the plight of Stavroula was discovered, how she struggled on her own, without any financial or practical help. Malin Lindstrand got in touch with Stavroula and offered her help, initially with the idea to raise funds and possibly find homes for some of the dogs.
Shortly after the Elpida facebook page was created, Judith Gautestad, Jackie Shields and Valerie Dover joined the team. For a long time, the page was run by the four of them, where they started to build up a network, raising funds, and in April, their first adoptions to the UK. As the interest for Elpida grew, so did the responsibilities that came with running the page, handling adoptions and inquiries and of course raising funds. In the following months, the admin team expanded and Jessica Fish, Hayley Levingstone, Lyn Langford, Nathalie Boersma, Marloes Hink, Sharon Jackson, Madonna McGarvey and Sharon Cordwell joined the team.
The admin team are responsible for everything related to the shelter. They are in close contact with Stavroula on a daily basis, to get updates on the dogs and the supplies needed for the dogs or for improving the shelter, everything that can help the day to day activities. There is an incredible amount of time spent behind the scenes, planning the next steps. Elpida works close with Give A Dog a Home - UK and Lynne Spencer who helps finding foster and forever homes in Kent, Sussex, East Sussex and Surrey for among others Elpida dogs.
The team also makes sure the Facebook and Twitter pages is up to date, that questions are handled, emails answered, adoption requests, homechecks, planning the transports of adopted dogs, transport upon arrival, after care and support for adopted dogs. The website is done by the admin team, as is the handling of, and raising funds, and the monthly auction.
These are time consuming tasks and many of the admins dedicate hours of their time every day to ensure everything is taken care of. Though some of the admins have a history in rescue, the main part of the team do it out of the love for dogs, gaining experience as they go, combining Elpida with jobs, families and of course dogs.
What makes the Elpida team so special is how close the group is, and how it grew to an extended family, were they found people sharing their love, and need, to help dogs and offer them something better than a life on the streets.
It is a genuine group with respect for each other, and for everyone who makes the effort to get involved with Elpida, may it be adopters, generous donators or those who share every dog looking for a forever home.
Not only the Elpida team, but everyone involved, are part of the extended Elpida family.
It is very humbling to think, that the wish to make a difference for someone, is made possible by an incredible commitment from the Elpida team, and all the supporters of the shelter. They made Elpida what it is today. And gave Hope.