When the first coronavirus outbreak hit China in January, Middle Tennessee’s Chinese community moved into action to direct donations and supplies to Wuhan. With Nashville now facing a serious outbreak of its own, our focus has shifted back home. We want to keep you updated on what our community is doing during these unique times; below are several links to stories from GNCA’s Facebook page. If you have a story of your own to pass along, please share it there or email us!
Chinese Nashvillians start GoFundMe group for PPE
The GoFundMe group TNChinese-HelpDefeatCovid19 has raised over $35,000 to date and has donated sent thousands of articles of PPE to several area hospitals. The group is still accepting donations.
Tennessee American-Chinese Chamber of Commerce donates masks to MNPD
The Tennessee American-Chinese Chamber of Commerce donated thousands of masks Metro Nashville Police Department officers.
Ming Wang op-ed in the Tennessean
Dr. Wang’s opinion piece in The Tennessean stresses the importance of finding unity in times of crisis:
When a crisis such as the coronavirus outbreak occurs, we realize that our ability to deal with it is critically dependent upon how prepared and experienced we already are to overcome our differences and come together as a nation.
Nashville’s “Chinese Sewing Soldiers”
A group of 21 local women who call themselves the “Chinese Sewing Soldiers” have made and donated over 700 (and counting!) masks to Williamson Medical Center, Maury Medical Center, the Tennessee Dept. of Health, and others. See also Nashvillian Jie Li, who runs an alterations store and has made over 100 masks and donated them to neighbors, friends, hospitals, and whoever else needs them.
Coronavirus Q & A with Dr. Guanping Zheng
Interesting interview in the Rutherford Source with Dr. Zheng, who works at MTSU and also happens to be a GNCA board member.
Interview with Dr. Katty Kong
Dr. Kong is originally from Hubei province and worked in a hospital before coming to Nashville. She spoke with WSMV about the situation in China in February.