In early May 2020, Project Rise and Shine hosted the “We, Together! 2020” competition, which was designed for all students under age 21. The competition called for either written work, artwork, photo/videography, or a project on the following themes:
- My life after COVID 19.
- My blessings to individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Cheers and support for frontline healthcare workers and/or first responders.
AYLUS Pearland’s submission of their “Supports First Responders and Health Care Workers” project won the first prize and was awarded with a $200 Amazon gift card. AYLUS Pearland’s officer, Andy Jiang, attended Project Rise and Shine’s annual meeting on June 23rd to introduce AYLUS Pearland to project partners and sponsors while providing background and details of the project submission.
The AYLUS submission consists of 3 subprojects, “The fundraising, purchasing and distribution of PPEs to the frontline responders and healthcare workers”; “N95 Mask for regular mask exchange” and “Methodist Hearts to Houston Healthcare Workers”. These projects represent the AYLUS members’ contribution and positive impact to the Greater Houston’s community during the stressful times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reported by Andy Jiang
Project Submission
AYLUS Pearland Supports First Responders and Health Care Workers
The global outbreak of COVID-19 had been rapidly evolving. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. increased to over 163,000, with more than 3,000 deaths as of March. As the pandemic continues to spread, the greater Houston region saw rapid growth in new cases and faced a shortage of medical supplies needed to fight the coronavirus.
On March 21st, 2020, Alliance of Youth Leaders in the United States (AYLUS) Pearland Chapter along with the Pearland Chinese Association and Hua Xia Chinese School Pearland Campus decided to raise funds to collect the crucial Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hygiene supplies to support the health care workers and first responders on the frontlines. This “COVID-19 Prevention and Love for the Community” initiative encouraged community members to work together to donate needed supplies to local hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, police departments, and fire stations.
Within a couple of days, members of AYLUS Pearland donated more than $3,000 dollars and three thousand disposable gloves. Many high school students donated money from their savings to support current needs. A young boy even used his “lucky money” received in red envelopes from Chinese New Year to purchase and donate protective suits. With the fund in hand, volunteers started procuring PPE such as surgical masks, protective coveralls, goggles, disinfecting wipes, etc.
Volunteers were dedicated to communicating with medical workers and first responders through phone calls and social media to match the demand with supplies while coordinating drop-off locations.
AYLUS Pearland raised money to purchase PPE
When AYLUS Pearland volunteers learned how hospitals were in a desperate need of N95 masks, a kind of mask designed for filtering out small airborne particles, which is essential to healthcare workers. Because the masks were extremely difficult to find on market, the volunteers exchanged surgical masks for N95 masks from community members who originally had inventory. The critical N95 masks were donated to five hospitals in need of them.
AYLUS volunteer, Jayden Lu, went door to door offering an exchange of 2 general-use protective masks for 1 n95-grade mask.
AYLUS Pearland volunteers packing PPE
Ultimately, the community’s hard work paid off. The plethora of donated items were delivered to hospitals, clinics, first line responders, nursing homes, and nurses, including but not limited to the recipients listed in the following:
AYLUS Pearland has received many photos and sincere messages of appreciation from the first line responders and healthcare workers. The volunteers were happy to see their strong efforts contribute to help fight the pandemic.
“Residents have shown an extraordinary amount of compassion towards the community in the last few weeks,” said Xiaoling Liu, board member of AYLUS Pearland. “Not only has the initiative helped the local community, but it has also given the residents an opportunity to come together and foster hope during a difficult time. People share their ongoing support and love they have for each other. Together, we can fight the virus.”
At the end of April 2020, AYLUS members began writing and decorating “thank you” cards through Methodist hospital’s national campaign, Hearts for Healthcare Workers, for the brave, selfless nurses, and doctors. Catherine Bai, an AYLUS member posted flyers and collected cards from her neighborhood. Throughout one week, members and their local communities had produced fifty cards. Participants, ranging from five to sixteen years old, drew and wrote notes of encouragement and appreciation. All the cards were assembled to create two large posters to deliver to Methodist’s Visual Arts Center of Performing Arts Medicine department. Those two posters will then be delivered to the frontline units to motivate and show our community’s appreciation for the healthcare heroes.
Methodist Hearts created by AYLUS Pearland members
Public media from the Greater Houston area wrote articles on AYLUS Pearland’s efforts to help fight the pandemic.
AYLUS Pearland on Houston Chronicle
AYLUS Pearland on Community Impact
Towards the end of the PPE donation and first-responders support project, $200 of the funds raised will go to meals for health care workers, which is an ongoing project and will be completed within the next few weeks.
Within the past two months, AYLUS Pearland members learned how a small act can create a big change through seeing the positive impact on the community from their contributions.