Grace Xie, Eva Zhang and Gary Xie deliver face masks donated from the Chinese American community to local organizations Monday and Tuesday around the area. Courtesy photo
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@/ladailypost.com
Members of the Chinese American community in Los Alamos recently raised funds to purchase 14,000 face masks to donate to healthcare workers, local organizations, and particularly senior centers around the community.
“They are the frontline fighters, lifesavers, and caretakers … while they risk their lives and health for us, we would like to do our share to help,” said Chinese American community member Gary Xie. “Since our culture treasures and respects the elders, and because they are also the most vulnerable to the coronavirus, we want to honor and protect the elders as we do ours.”
The group donated 5,000 masks Monday to Los Alamos County for its field employees. They also donated a few thousand masks to Aspen Ridge Lodge, Sombrillo Nursing and Rehabilitation and Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Services. Tuesday the group distributed masks to the Betty Ehart Senior Center and White Rock Senior Center, Los Alamos Medical Center and Presbyterian Hospital in Española.
“I can not give enough credit to all of our volunteers behind this campaign,” Xie said. “Many Anonymous members from our community, including those from the Chinese Christian Fellowship, volunteered and cooperated to raise funds, procured face masks, arranged shipping and deliveries, and coordinated communications.”
The group has a number of masks they are keeping in reserve to respond to urgent needs. If masks are needed by local organizations, they can be contacted through email at mask4la@gmail.com.
“This is a challenging time for all of us, but we are in it together,” Xie said. “We want to show our appreciation of our healthcare and field workers’ selfless efforts and contribute to the common welfare and the united fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Stay safe! Be well! Fight together.”