North Carolina Local Chinese Business Owners Giving Back

Representatives of local Chinese businesses and King’s Park International Church delivering donations to WakeMed Raleigh Hospital.

Rachel Lin, a donation deliverer and a high school student, is interviewed by INDY Week.

【CHINESE HEADLINE NEWS MEDIA】

 translate by  Emily Xu

Whether it be disinfectant spray or surgical masks, if there is a need, then it will be provided for by local Chinese residents. On April 9th, a donation project led by the Chinese-American Friendship Association of North Carolina (CAFA) swept through Raleigh, aiding six different locations. Chinese business owners from Fujian were the main force in the donation effort. 

Total 10,000 gloves and 500 masks were delivered to the Wake County Government Office. This generous donation can be attributed to businesswoman Nicky Xu, who is the owner of the Sichuan restaurant Chengdu 7.

Nicky Xu, the owner of restaurant Chengdu 7, poses with Wake County officials after dropping off donations.

Wake County Government thanks Chengdu 7 Restaurant and CAFA for their support.

There are over 200 Chinese business owners, originally from Fujian, China, residing in the Triangle. Other than Wake County Government, these business owners have contributed medical supplies to three more organizations/locations. 

Cary Town Councilwomen Ya Liu was informed that a hardware store—located off the intersection of Cary Parkway and Old Apex Rd—was lacking the masks and gloves needed to protect its employees from COVID-19. Understanding the severity of the situation, local Chinese business owners responded to the call for help and donated 600 gloves and 500 masks to the hardware store.

Donations for the Town & Country Hardware store.

In hopes of keeping first-responders protected, local Chinese businesses gathered 4,000 gloves and 1,000 masks to be donated to the Cary Police Department.

Local Chinese business representatives donating to the Cary Police Department.

On Monday, April 6th, John Wei and Haihui Huang of the Chinese American Economic Cultural Association (CAECA) coordinated with former Cary Police Chief Jerry McCormick to organize a special donation of 3000 masks to the Cary Police Department.

Haihui Huang (second from right) and Gaorong Wei (second from left) delivered masks to the Cary Police Department.

WakeMed Raleigh Hospital received donations from local Chinese businesses and the King's Park International Church (KPIC) in Durham. The KPIC brought in a box of N95 masks while local Chinese businesses donated a large total of 2450 disposable masks, 1,000 KN95 masks, and 9,000 gloves. 

Representing the local Chinese businesses are Kechu Wang, Eric Zheng, Hua Chen, and three high-schoolers. In response to the gratitude for the donations, Bin Wen says, “We are honored to work with our Chinese friends to do something meaningful for the safety of our community and to help quicken the passing of coronavirus.”

Local Chinese business representatives carrying donations.

Tony Yao and others carrying donations.

“Medical workers are risking their lives to save patients’ lives and keep our community healthy. Thus, we should return the favor and make meaningful contributions.” says Hua Chen. He continues to mention how the food industry has been strongly hit by the pandemic. Hua Chen’s restaurant has been closed for three weeks, but he still has to pay for his restaurant’s rent and keep his employees. There is no way to do business without the help of society. Chen says, “A time like this makes our kids not want to open restaurants anymore.” Chen and other Chinese business owners let their children partake in charity activities, hoping that their children can get in touch with society and brave social responsibilities. 

The young teenage volunteers have attracted the attention of local newspaper INDY Week. A reporter from INDY Week made a special trip to meet the volunteers and get a statement.

Kechu Wang is briefing the INDY Week reporter on their donation effort.

At 5 PM that day, the hospital Johnston Health Clayton received a donation of medical supplies. Jianping Yang, CAFA president, was in charge of this donation operation. Yang met with local Chinese business owners to deliver over 4,000 disposable masks, 600 KN95 masks, and 5,000 gloves.

Donating supplies to Johnson Health Clayton.

Over $14,686 worth of medical supplies were donated by local Chinese businesses.

Nursing homes are a priority when it comes to needing protection. Ya Liu recently learned that the nursing staff at Glenaire Retirement Community had called declared itself to be in a state of emergency as it desperately needed donations. The Chinese community responded. At 5:55 PM，professor Yiran Chen brought 200 masks, dentist Jing Zhou brought 400 Level 3 masks, Jian Ma brought 50 N95 masks, and Ya Liu brought 400 masks—purchased using money raised by CAFA’s COVID-19 fundraiser—to be donated to Glenaire. Such an effort to help the nursing home moved the heart of Cary Town Councilwomen Lori Bush, whose mother lives in Glenaire Retirement Community.

Council Members Lori Bush and Ya Liu delivered masks and gloves to Glennaire Retirement Community. 

Dr. Jing Zhou, owner of Crystal Smile, giving supplies to medical workers.

In a WeChat group that updated the progress of the donation effort, many praised the charitable acts of CAFA, local Chinese business, and all donors. “I am thankful and proud to live in such a caring community,” Ya Liu says, "Every donation, big or small, matters. Thank you to everyone who contributed and cheered us on. "

• ☆Thanks to volunteer Emily Xu who is a high school student.