The face masks donated by Taiwanese community groups in New York.

As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to seriously affect the New York region, widespread shortages of face masks and other personal protective equipment have been reported. In response, leaders of the Taiwanese community in New York generously donated 20,000 face masks for Taiwanese students studying in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York (TECO). distributed the 20,000 donated masks to Taiwanese students in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.

The donation of masks was sponsored by the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of New York, the Chinese American Business Association, the Eastern U.S. Fine Tea and Wine Association, and Mr. Chung Wen-chung, an associate advisor for the Overseas Community Affairs Council..

Leaders of these Taiwanese community organizations presented the masks to TECO New York on March 30 where they were received by Lily Hsu, the Director-General of TECO New York, and Dr. Min-Ling Yang, director of the Education Division there. Lily Hsu expressed her admiration of and thanks to the members of the local Taiwanese community for their concern for the welfare of Taiwanese students, and their very practical assistance. 

The Education Division at TECO New York contacted more than forty Taiwanese Student Association at universities in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut to determine the need for masks among Taiwanese students at each campus, and the donated masks were then expeditiously distributed to the students through their campus Taiwanese student organizations.