Jan Gong with the Southern Alberta Chinese Association donates face masks to the Lethbridge Senior Citizens' Organization. (Supplied by Trevor Page)

By David Opinko

1,000 face masks donated to vulnerable peoples in Lethbridge

Mar 27, 2020 | 10:56 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge’s Chinese community came together to support those in need.

Southern Alberta Chinese Association (SACA) Vice President Jan Gong says they had planned to hold a Chinese New Year celebration in early February, but that was cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19.

In addition to a fundraising event, SACA used some of the money that would have gone to the event to buy and donate face masks. Their initial donation went to people in China.

“We feel this very important and [such a] critical time to prevent this virus from getting into this place, which is by now, very very serious in the whole world,” says Gong.

After the face masks were donated, however, the people who received the masks wanted to return the favour and help out people in Lethbridge.

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“We as Chinese a community, it just feels like we should make ourselves a global family and help each other. When we have a problem, we should, whatever we can, do something for the community.”

In total, 1,000 face masks will go to people in Lethbridge.

500 were donated Thursday to the Lethbridge Senior Citizens’ Organization, which will be distributed amongst its staff, volunteers, and the seniors themselves.

“Seniors are very vulnerable, but the most vulnerable are the people who are working for the seniors, say like they deliver the food for the seniors and then cleaning for the seniors, cooking for the seniors,” says Gong. “I thought that these sorts of people should be protected.”

300 masks were given to the local Chinese community who helped to fund the donation, while 200 will go to the Haig Clinic.

According to the World Health Organization, face masks are effective at preventing people who are sick from transmitting viruses such as COVID-19 to others. People who are healthy are only encouraged to wear face masks if they are taking care of a person who is suspected to have COVID-19 or a person who is at a higher risk.