Coronavirus: Jacksonville Chinese community donates $78,000 in PPE to Baptist Health

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — One Jacskonville community came together to help support health care workers on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus.

The Jacksonville Chinese community donated more than $78,000 worth of personal protective equipment to Baptist Health, according to the health care system.

This all came from the Jacksonville Chinese Association, Artfully Green Inc., PAX Technology, American Hongbo Ag Co. and assistance from UNF’s Department of Health Administration.

The collection drive started on March 23 and ended on April 6. Most of the PPE supplies came in on April 10.

Mei Zhao, a professor at UNF and the president of the Jacksonville Chinese Association, said she organized this effort for several reasons. These reasons include that Baptist has offered internships and jobs to many UNF students, and because the health care system serves the overall community. Zhao said she feels deep ties to the hospital and wanted to help.

“As the Asian community, we also feel like, well, we want to give back to the biggest healthcare system to help the community unite,“ Zhao said.