COVID-19 pandemic has arrived at everyone’s doorsteps.

It fundamentally changed our way of life, stress-testing us from all angles: the skyrocketing numbers do not seem to peak anytime soon, restricted mobility raises emotional anxiety, working from home requires constantly balancing family obligations with job duties (if a job is still in place), and when running errands, we still debate whether to wear a face mask or not. As each US state enforces a “Stay at Home” order and as the US became the No.1 country with most reported cases, everyone is experiencing an unprecedented life under quarantine.

Chinese Americans and overseas Chinese are “veterans” since the very beginning of this global combat against COVID-19.  In the first round, Peking University Alumni Association-DC Chapter (PUAA-DC) accomplished many “heavy-liftings”: we raised funds and in-kind donations from alums, vetted qualified personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers, aligned multi-mode logistics, made direct contacts at major airlines and courier services, helped clear US and Chinese customs, and received assistance from the Chinese Embassy. Over $50,000 raised translated to one Thermo Fisher Scientific Quant Studio5 PCR system for the newly built Huo Shen Shan hospital (jointly with three other organizations), 783 units of non-contact forehead thermometers and 499 units of pulse oximeters for 505 communities in Wuhan to assist community screening. Meanwhile, worldwide Peking University alumni wove together an extensive logistical net that enabled PUAA-DC to assist other socially conscious companies and institutions to make targeted and timely donations to Wuhan hospitals at the frontier.

There was no time to spare before the second round hit. Volunteers heard emergency calls from alumni families and responded quickly to procure household protection equipment. Based on the “new skills” acquired in the first round - namely supplier sourcing, quality control, and logistics coordination - within two weeks they managed to ship hundreds of thousands of non-medical graded masks to several metropolitan locations and distributed to hundreds of families.

Before the volunteers could catch their breath, news broke that multiple hot zones in the US were in dire need of PPEs for medical staff and first responders. Many alumni donated their newly purchased masks to local hospitals and police stations, but it was far from enough. Out of obligations to their local communities and out of broad love, a new league of volunteers quickly assembled for COVID-19 combat 2.0.

A similar process ensued: fund raising, supplier sourcing, gauging the needs of DMV hospitals, and ensuring timely transportation against a much-reduced air traffic capacity. As the outreach to local Chinese American communities expanded, mission-focused WeChat groups were formed, including a fund raising group, a procurement group, a hospital outreach group and a media group.

But round two comes with its unique set of challenges. Medical equipment is strictly regulated in the US; the laws are detailed and overly complex. As the situation worsens, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues daily roundups and revises Emergency Utility Authorization guidelines weekly. KN95 from China was first excluded, then included and now needs to be classified separately. To keep abreast with the fluid situation, PUAA-DC volunteers had to browse the FDA and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s websites frequently. On the other hand, needs at hospitals fluctuate by the hour, volunteers of the hospital group need to stay on top of communication. Everyday, manufacturers from various brands submit product specifications and certifications for evaluation; volunteers in the procurement group need to learn the ropes fast and apply strict screening process to let medical professionals make effective decisions.

Consolidation amasses greater resources than pieces combined. PUAA-DC quickly partnered with like-minded non-profit organizations, including Chinese Americans Support Hospitals (CASH) – a community group in DC metro area – Hope Chinese school main campus, Chinese Fellowship Association in DC metro area, Washington DC Chinese Volunteer Platform and Stepping Stones Foundation. Information is shared and efforts are coordinated. Every member has the same goal in mind: supporting the community, helping others, and contributing to the country we call home.

Through tireless work and coordination, the CASH group secured 112,500 FDA certified disposable medical surgical masks which arrived DC on April 3rd, 2020.  Over the weekend, volunteers were busy sorting and dividing the masks to its designated hospitals. PUAA-DC dropped off 3,000 masks to the Clinical Center of National Institute of Health (NIH) on Monday, April 6, 2020. The Center is busy developing COVID-19 vaccine and running the clinical trial. It is critical to keep the frontline medical staff and researchers safe.     

蔓延全球的新冠疫情已经来到了每个人的门前。

它深刻地改变了我们的生活方式，从全方位对我们进行抗压测试：行动受限、内心焦虑；宅家办公、平衡家庭责任和远程工作方式；出门采购，口罩戴还是不戴？……随着美国各州强制隔离令的陆续颁布，以及美国成为病例最多的国家，每个人都经历着非凡的心路历程。

北大华府校友作为“打全场”的美籍华人和海外华人，上半场积极募捐，打通了货源、物流、清关、使馆渠道，将5万美元的善款转换成一台实时荧光定量PCR仪（与其他社团合作）、783只非接触式红外测温仪和499只血氧仪，为武汉的疫情检测和社区排查解决了燃眉之急。同时，遍布四方的校友网络和来之不易的物流信息，还协助到其他善心企业和机构，将防护物资从全球多点向武汉诊疗前线点对点配送。

下半场说到就到。志愿者们首先响应了校友急需家用口罩的呼声，利用上半场练就的“质检”本领和物流资源，协助全美北大校友及亲属，采购了数以万计的民用口罩，将防护送到了校友的手中。

眼看美国各地一线人员的个人防护设备告急，很多校友把自己团购来的口罩捐了出去，可那仅仅是杯水车薪。校友们的志愿热情再次被点燃，既出于对自己所属社区的责任，又出于大爱无疆的情怀，新一批志愿者们随即组织起来，开启了抗疫2.0。

流程和上半场如出一辙：动员筹款，联络货源，摸清DMV周边医院捐赠要求，在国际航力全面削减的情况下确保捐赠物资及时抵达医护人员。志愿校友们迅速联系本地华人同胞，建群分组，将庞杂的工作分为筹款组，采购组，医院联络组和媒体组。

但是下半场又是全新的挑战。美国医疗器械规定严格，法律细则复杂。随着疫情的加重，美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）每日都在发布疫情综述医院（Roundups)，应急采购新政（EUA）也不断更改。来自中国的医用KN95口罩一时被排除在外、一时又被加入，一时又被打入另册。这些都迫使志愿者团队把刷新FDA和疾控中心（CDC）网站，认真领会文件，纳入了日常工作。同时志愿者必须密切联系医院，反复跟医院核实需求和接收，不断调整订单。另一方面，志愿者们每天都会收到多方货源信息和各类文件证书，大家的“质检”本领不断提高，充分做到了志愿者初步质量和认证把控，筛选之后再请医疗专家最后把关，以确保捐赠物品的优质。

本着集中力量办大事的原则，校友志愿者很快联络了华府华人支援医院民间群体(CASH, Chinese Americans Support Hospitals)、希望中文学校总校，大华府同乡会，美国华府华人志愿者平台，铺路石基金等多家华人公益团体。几个团队在过去的几周里，互通信息，共享货源，协调医院分配及联系。大家的出发点是一致的：帮助社区，助人即助己，通过捐赠，提升华人在社区的形象和影响力。

由CASH团体联系并采购到11万余副有FDA认证的一次性医用外科口罩(surgical mask) ，于2020年4月3日抵达华府。经过协商，其中北大华府校友会出资的三千副医用外科口罩，于周一2020年4月6日捐赠到美国国家卫生研究院临床医院（NIH Clinical Center）。该医院是国家级别的研究医院，正在为新冠病毒的临床治疗及研究加紧奋战。该临床医院的医护及研究人员急需口罩等防护品。

三千副的数量，虽然无法填补美国需求的巨大缺口，但这雪中送炭的情谊，是在美华人心系社区、助力美国抗疫的实际行动。

战疫是马拉松，华府北大志愿者的热情长燃。我们将继续致力于保护我们的家人、医护人员和邻居。请将您的善心捐款PayPal到puaadc1993@gmail.com并留下您的姓名和email地址。募捐结束后30天内，我们将发送感谢信和免税证明到您的邮箱。

疫情无国界，大爱连你我。我们感谢本次捐赠中出力出策的所有义工和朋友，也感谢各华人团队的协作精神。愿我们彼此守护、平安度过这场无情的疫情！