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We’ve Got You Covered

Local Chinese Community Supports UNC REX During COVID-19

In March as COVID-19 spread rapidly through the country, Ping Zhang, director of the Chinese American Civic Center, was in Raleigh creating a GoFundMe page to raise money for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for UNC REX front-line workers.

Hannah Chan, vice president of Carolinas Chinese Chamber of Commerce (CCCC), began promoting Zhang’s efforts on social media platforms.

“We started collecting money and face masks,” Chan said. “People started dropping off masks at the office, and within the first week of increased marketing we raised $15,000. In all we collected almost $50,000, and we got another $50,000 in equivalent PPE donations.”

As Chan and Zhang were helping UNC REX co-workers, Jianping Yang, president of the Chinese-American Friendship Association of North Carolina (CAFA), was simultaneously spearheading a donation effort for UNC REX.

The money and PPE were raised during three weeks in March. “After April I think the hospital had a sufficient number of PPE, so we started buying regular masks for the general public,” Yang said.

For Chan and Yang, donating PPE to UNC REX was personal: Chan’s mother is a retired nurse, her father is a retired pharmacist and Yang’s friend, Qingxiao Cheng, is a nurse at UNC REX.

When the community is hurting, we’re all hurting.

“Initially, the only place the masks could be purchased was in China because the U.S. didn’t have a supply,” said Yang. “I have friends who work for the Chinese Ministry of Health. We knew there was a shortage of PPE here so we … thought it was a good idea to fundraise for the doctors and nurses.”

Chan’s respect for healthcare workers led to her involvement.

“I really appreciate the doctors, nurses, delivery people, post office workers, firefighters and police

One of many deliveries of PPE donatoins from CCCC and CAFA.

officers,” she said. “I appreciate all of the front-line workers who during this time put other people first.”

Chan grew emotional while discussing reading about a nurse who worked all day yet was fearful of going home and spreading the coronavirus to her family.

“The article made me think about my parents and other healthcare workers,” Chan said. “Some people can work from home, but the nurses and doctors can’t do that.”

Chan said she fells good about what they have done. “When the community is hurting, we’re all hurting,” she said.

“Because the nurses working at REX were asking for masks, I really knew of their need,” she said. “We actually gave the most PPE to REX — ICU gowns, masks, face shields and eye goggles.”

Cheng connected Yang with hospital facilities workers in charge of PPE. He estimates CAFA donated $13,000 to UNC REX, and more than a dozen organizations helped CAFA’s donation efforts.

“A lot of people were very supportive,” Yang said. “We were in a unique position because we had a lot of connections in China. We felt very good about what we were doing because we were helping to save lives.”

“A lot of the people donating money were from the Chinese community here, but some people in China also donated money,” he said. “UNC REX is a great hospital, and we were glad to help the doctors and nurses there who are helping to save lives.”

Multiple Chinese American organizations came together to provide UNC REX essential PPE:

• RTP Chinese American Physician

Association • International Leadersihp Foundation • NC Asian American Coalition • Asian Americans for Dan Forest • Chinese American Association of

Charlotte • Greenboro Chinese Association • Greensboro Chinese School • Wilmington Chinese American Culture

Association • Myrtle Beach Chinese Business

Association • Myrtle Beach Chinese Community • North American News Channel • Chinese Press, Chinese News

Headliner Company & World

Journalism

Thank You to our community for stepping up to help!

Peter Dong-Kyun Kim, president and CEO (left) and Anna Kim, COO (far right) of Daedong-USA, Inc.- KIOTI, present 10,000 N-95 masks as well as a K9 2440 utility vehicle to UNC REX leadership members, Sylvia Hackett and Andy Zukowski.

The NC Woodworker Forum donated hand-carved wooden angels to our “angels” on the front line. Members of the lab show off their gifts!

Local GNC franchise owners Laura and Carter Dalton made a donation to the health care providers working on the front lines. GNC donated 1,000 energy drinks, 1,000 protein bars, and 1,000 vitamin C chews to UNC REX to help keep doctors and nurses nourished as they help fight the virus.

The Rex Wellness Center of Raleigh served as a PPE donation drop off location during March and April. Many generous community members delivered!