Author’s note: This article was written on March 2, 2020, weeks before the notion that school may close even became an idea to us, and long before cases and deaths due to COVID-19 soared in the United States.

Coronavirus COVID-19 concerns have undoubtedly snaked their way into everyone’s minds. People are worried about how it is passed, how to avoid it, what the mortality rate is, and who it will hit next.

But what are people doing to support those suffering by it?

There are only 13 total members in the Lakeridge Chinese club, but in light of recent events concerning the virus, the team decided to band together and send as much help as possible to their brothers and sisters overseas.

The team received news that Wuhan’s Children Hospital sent out a message on Weibo reading “Shortage of medical supplies, request help!” and without hesitation spurred into action and planned what to do and how to help.

“I think it’s our mission to bring awareness of Chinese culture to the language community,” said Vice President of Chinese Club Anastasia Tam. “I think it’s a great way to make Lakeridge be aware of the situation that’s happening over there.”

The club raised $32 from their sale during Chinese New Year. Cilei Han, the district Chinese teacher (known as Han Laoshi by her students) used that money to purchase thermometers.

“It was a very thoughtful thing because all the Chinese club members brought their own objects and items from their own house and their own lives to sell in order to support this case,” said Tam.

The club did not stop there. As per tradition, every year the club makes and sells bubble tea and puts the money raised towards the club. However, this year the members decided to put 100 percent of the profits towards doing what they can to support Wuhan.

“All the money we made from our sales is going to buying supplies for the Children’s Hospital, because we are here to advocate for and raise awareness for this issue that is not only affecting thousands of Chinese citizens, but us in the states too,” said club president Michelle Woo.

Not only that, but Woo announced that they would be changing the recipe to improve it.

“We wanted to really create authentic drinks to represent the Chinese culture,” said Woo.

“It was very tiring,” said Tam. “But in the end I think it was worth it because we made money and we could give that money to the Wuhan Children’s Hospital.”

The club ended up making $57 after reimbursements from the bubble tea sale, making that a total of $89 in revenue. The money that was raised in the bubble tea sale went towards purchasing gloves, which the hospital is also reportedly short on.

In the package sent to Wuhan Children’s Hospital were photos of members from both Lakeridge and Lake Oswego Chinese clubs, several lists of signatures from students on a note that read “Wuhan Jiayou!” (Good luck/Keep fighting Wuhan!) and letters written to the patients in both English and Chinese.

Long before anybody could guess this outcome, Chinese club showed compassion and awareness to those affected by COVID-19 in other places.

As people in the US continue to maneuver their way through these times, efforts like these become increasingly more important and appreciated, now matter how small the team is.