Seven thousand four hundred thirty-eight miles separate Wuhan, China and Columbus, Indiana, but earlier this month, the distance between the two communities didn’t feel so far.
In a 36-hour span, local residents and organizations shipped 10,000 protective masks to China — on commercial aircraft flights — to help Wuhan and neighboring cities prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
As we write, there have been a total of 81,000 cases of the virus reported worldwide and over 2,700 worldwide have died from it. China has reported over 78,000 cases while accounting for a vast majority of the deaths.
Columbus and, what has become the hardest hit part of, China have a history together.
While Cummins’ worldwide headquarters is based in Columbus, the diesel engine company has 10 facilities in the Hubei Province: including in its capital of Wuhan.
Last month, Columbus Regional Health officials started coordinating with the Columbus Chinese Association and Cummins East Asian Employee Resource Group to transport medical supplies to China.
CRH determined that they could donate 10,000 masks, 2,800 sterile gloves and 22 sterile gowns.
On Feb. 1, as the virus became a pandemic, the Columbus Chinese Association found out that someone they knew was going to be flying from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to Beijing.
The flight was still going on despite many flights already being suspended to China.
The supplies — loaded in luggage — were loaded into a vehicle and were driven from Columbus to Chicago. The next day, the remainder of the supplies were sent before the flight departed.
Once on the plane, it was quickly determined that not all the masks fit in the luggage. Flight attendants from Hainan Airlines didn’t hesitate in helping, as they divided up the rest of the masks among their own bags so they could be transported.
The two batches of masks arrived in Beijing and were transported to the communities of Wuhan and Xiangyang. Some masks were also sent to some families of Cummins employees who live in the two cities.
Some of those involved in the operation have deemed the feat a miracle.
The only part of the situation that could be considered a miracle was the timing of events. The rest of the results can be attributed to the goodwill of our community members.
Their willingness to help others in a moment’s notice — no matter the distance — is commendable.
The efforts to help combat the virus haven’t stopped there.
The Columbus Chinese Association and Cummins Inc.’s East Asian Employee Resource Group have also raised around $24,000 in donations in recent weeks to order protective goggles and other supplies that will be shipped to the Wuhan area soon.
The monetary donations have primarily come from Cummins employees, community members and local companies such as LHP Engineering Solutions and Faurecia in recent weeks to order protective goggles and other supplies.
The virus has already claimed many lives, but thanks to the efforts of our community some may have been saved. Every bit helps.
