At Lex & Levie, kindness has always been part of our story — long before our shop even opened.
Since 2017, I’ve personally supported a small independent dog shelter in Taiyuan, China, lovingly known as 一叶舟小院 (Yi Ye Zhou Shelter), run by a remarkable rescuer everyone calls “Dog Mom” (狗娘娘).
The name Yi Ye Zhou literally means “a single leaf-shaped boat.” In Chinese culture, it carries a deep poetic meaning:
In the vast ocean of humanity, a single person — or a single belief — drifts like a tiny boat. Though small and fragile, it stays afloat with quiet determination.
It represents perseverance in solitude, faith against the current, and the gentle strength of never giving up amidst the storm.
Just like Dog Mom herself — facing endless challenges and moments of helplessness, she continues to shoulder the lives of hundreds of dogs on her own, adrift yet steadfast.
Despite freezing winters that can reach -4°F (-20°C) and scarce resources, she ensures that every dog is spayed or neutered, dewormed, and cared for with love and dignity. Each one has a name, a story, and a chance to live safely — and that’s what makes her rescue so extraordinary.
💛 Our Monthly Donation Program
Since March 2025, when Lex & Levie officially opened our doors, we’ve established a monthly donation plan to support Dog Mom’s shelter.
Each month, we donate between ¥900–¥1,100 RMB (approximately $125–$155 USD) in supplies — including food, medicine, and warm bedding — based on what the dogs need most.
On Lex & Levie’s birthday months — May and November — we triple the donation to around ¥3,200 RMB (approximately $440 USD) to provide extra help during the cold seasons and to celebrate our growing community together with them. 🎂🐶
Every month’s donation record is displayed in our store and will soon be updated on our website, so our community can see exactly where your support goes. Every purchase you make helps us send more care to these dogs — turning your kindness into something real and tangible, across oceans and borders. 🐶💖
🌍 Why It Matters
In China, small private shelters like Yi Ye Zhou face daily challenges — limited funding, harsh weather, and a lack of systemic support. Yet Dog Mom has never stopped rescuing. Her quiet perseverance reminds us that compassion doesn’t need scale to make an impact — it just needs consistency.
When we started Lex & Levie, we wanted to carry that same spirit forward: doing small things with big love.
💌 How You Can Help
You can contribute directly through Lex & Levie’s donation box — available both online and in-store.
And every single purchase you make at Lex & Levie also gives back in some form to dogs in need — whether through monthly supplies, medical aid, or warm sheltering for the rescues we support.
Together, we can keep her rescue running — one meal, one blanket, one act of love at a time. 💛
