April 13, 2020

The Washington State China Relations Council, a 501(c)(6) organization, announced today that it has created a new sister organization, the Washington State China Relations Fund (WSCRF). The new entity is a 501(c)(3) organization, able to accept tax-deductible charitable donations.

The new entity was founded to provide more solid financial grounding for the Council’s educational programs. The Council runs many programs focused on business, cultural and educational topics that impact the relationship between Washington state and China. The Council hopes that by providing an opportunity to make tax-deductible contributions, both long-term supporters and other interested parties will help contribute the resources needed to expand the Council’s efforts to improve ties between Washington state and China.

The establishment of WSCRF could not come as a more opportune time as U.S. Customs has recently ruled that 501(c)(3) organizations are able to import donated personal protective equipment (PPE) from abroad duty free. The WSCRF has quickly filed the required documents and will act as the importer of record for a shipment of masks donated to the City of Seattle by the City of Hangzhou, which are due to arrive in Seattle next week. The Washington State China Relations Fund is also working with entities in China as well as local organizations to facilitate additional imports of PPE for Washington’s medical community.

We are extremely pleased that this entity is able to quickly transition to a role as an importer of PPE.  Although the long term plan for the WSCRF is to provide educational programs focused on improving our relations with China, we are glad that WSCRF is able to tangibly assist in the fight against COVID-19.

To read about the new ruling from the U.S. Customs Bureau regarding duty free imports of PPE, click here.

For more information about the Washington State China Relations Fund, or to make a donation, please contact:

Nor Coquillard   email: ncoquillard@wscrc.org

Man Wang         email: manw@wscrc.org

Dear WSCRC Members and Friends,

Many of you have reached out to us to inquire how you might make donations of goods or cash to help support the community’s fight against coronavirus. We have complied a list (below) of local organizations that we know who would welcome your support. We hope this list will make it easier for you to understand how you can contribute in these times of great need. The information compiled and presented above is based on our review of sources online. Please make sure to clarify specifics and details with any organization you might potentially support.

We’d like to point out that the Chinese Community in Seattle has been very active in raising funds and seeking donations to help our local hospitals. In particular the United Chinese Americans of Washington (UCAWA) and Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Washington State (CCCWA), in collaborations with other Washington based Chinese associations, are running fund drives to provide support to local hospitals (details are in the list below).

We are also working with our contacts to understand what medical products in China are available for immediate shipment to the U.S.. If you have sources of supply, we’d be interested in hearing from you so that we can pass on this information to our members as well as government agencies that are seeking such equipment.

We appreciate the compassion that our community is showing in this time of stress.

Stay safe (and wash your hands!).

Best Regards,
J. Norwell Coquillard, Executive Director
Man Wang, Director

Government Resources

State of Washington

The State of Washington is working to identify needs and fill shortages, by soliciting bulk donations and purchasing from sources outside of normal contracts. The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) is leading this effort. The state is also coordinating with manufacturers that are willing to shift gears and repurpose their manufacturing operations.

For detailed information, please visit the State of Washington PPE Information Page: https://des.wa.gov/about/agency-overview/covid-19-information-%E2%80%93-des-guidance/personal-protective-equipment.

• Some of the key information on PPE donation and purchasing includes,
  • A list of over 20 specific PPE and infection-control products identified by the Department of Health.
  • For bulk donations, donors need to download an Excel sheet from the link and send the completed form to PPEDonation@des.wa.gov.
  • For state purchasing, suppliers who have bulk amounts of any of the products listed on the page in stock and can deliver within 1-2 weeks can download a form from the link and send the completed form to the Department of Enterprise Services at DESContractsStrategy@des.wa.gov.
• The Washington State Department of Commerce is working with companies that can alter operations to support this effort. Companies should contact the Department of Commerce at covidmanufacturing@commerce.wa.gov.

City of Seattle – King County

The City of Seattle and Public Health – Seattle & King County are joining forces to solicit donations.

• Needed Supplies include new and unused N95, P100 and surgical masks, gloves, disposable gowns, eyewear, and more.
• Donation Portals
  • For King County, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2MLD3L7
  • Outside of King County, https://www.suppliessaveliveswa.org/
• Contact: PPEdonations@seattle.gov
• Donation Items Collection
  • Upon receiving a donation through the form, City employees will follow up with the donor to determine the best route for drop-off or pick-up of donations. The City is partnering with Goodwill Industries in King County for picking up donations.
  • Starting March 21, 2020, the city will be able to dispatch Goodwill to providers to arrange for pickup services. If a donor prefers to drop off materials, a City employee will coordinate a date and time.
  • All supplies collected will be relocated to a centralized facility in the SODO neighborhood provided by a private company as a collection point.

Donating Directly to Hospitals/Hospital Foundations                

Seattle Children’s Guild Association (Seattle Children’s Hospital)

• Monetary Donation Portal: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/giving/
• Medical Supply Donation: accepting curbside drop off of unopened boxes or bags
  • Seattle Drop-off Location: Seattle Children’s Guild Association Office, located within the Seattle Children’s Administrative Building. Address is 6901 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
  • Bellevue Drop-off Location: 1500 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
  • Drop-off Time: 9am – 3pm, Monday – Friday
  • Call 206-987-7000 or 206-987-2153 upon arrival for staff to collect donation items

EvergreenHealth Foundation (Evergreen Hospital)

• Monetary Donation Portal: https://www.evergreenhealthfoundation.com/ways-to-give/covid-19-coronavirus-critical-needs-at-evergreenhealth/
• Supply Donation: accepting curbside drop-off deliveries of unopened boxes or bags
  • Drop-off Location: the Physicians and Surgery Pavilion located at: 12333 NE 130th Lane, Kirkland
  • Drop-off Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday – Friday
  • Call 425-899-1900 upon arrival for staff to collect donation items

Providence Hospital

• Monetary Donation Portal: https://psjh.give.providence.org/campaign/providence-coronavirus-response/c276368?utm_source=providence&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=landingpage
• Medical Supply Donation
  • Address: 1321 Colby Ave, Everett, WA
  • Call 425-404-7902 for item collection
• 100 Million Masks Challenge
  • https://www.providence.org/lp/100m-masks
  • Information and instructions on how to make medical grade masks both for healthcare professional and volunteers

Overlake Medical Center Foundation (Overlake Hospital)

• Monetary Donation Portal: https://www.overlakehospital.org/makeagift/COVIDresponse
  • Supply Donation: call 425-688-5525 before dropping off donations to make sure they are  accepted items

• Accepted Items
  • Unopened packages of N95 and standard procedure masks
  • Unopened packages of disinfecting wipes
  • Unopened bottles of hand sanitizer
  • Unopened packages of gloves
  • PPE suites and gowns
• Drop-off Location
  • Address: 1035 116th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
  • Approved donations will be directed to drive up to the Starbucks entrance on Swistak Drive and call the foundation at 425-688-5525 from their car. Foundation staff will meet donors an ask them to fill out a donation form.
• Drop-off Time
  • 9am – 3pm, Monday – Friday
  • Call the foundation for weekend drop-off

University of Washington Medical Center

• Monetary Donation Portal: https://www.acceleratemed.org/stories/rapid-response-to-covid-19/

Virginia Mason Foundation (Virginia Mason Medical Center)

• Monetary Donation Portal: http://www.virginiamasonfoundation.org/

Swedish Medical Center Foundation (Swedish Medical Center)

• Monetary Donation Portal: https://give.swedishfoundation.org/covid-19

Other Foundations and Organizations

United Chinese American of Washington (UCAWA) Fundraising

UCAWA, along with 40 organizations in the region, aims to raise $140,000 by March 31, 2020 to EvergreenHealth Foundation to support the Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland. As of March 18, they have raised $43,948.

• Donation portal and more details: ucawa.org
• Contact: info@ucawa.org; 206-388-9596

Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Washington State (CCCWA) Foundation

• Monetary Donation can be made through,
  • Zelle: info@ccc-wa.org
  • ACH
    • Band of America
    • Account Number: 138127683476
    • Routing Number: 12500024
  • To donate medical supplies, please contact,
    • CCCWA Foundation: info@ccc-wa.org; 206-661-8287
    • Xiamen University Seattle Alumni Association: xmuaainseattle@gmaiil.com; 302-358-0366

Mask4WA through gofundme

The goal is to raise $100,000 dollars to purchase masks (FDA approved KN95 and surgical masks) for frontline healthcare workers at the University of Washington, Swedish Medical Center, and Seattle Children’s Hospital.

• Donation Portal: https://www.gofundme.com/f/masks-4-wa

 

HUST Alumni Association of Seattle

• Monetary Donation:
  • PayPal: sea@gmai.com
  • Zelle: sea@gmail.com
  • Bank Transfer
    • Bank of America
    • Account Number: 138119789595
    • Routing Number: 125000024
  • For more details, please visit https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/8TwIbBOQ9pCrRJqYUz_XDg (in Chinese)

Alibaba.com PPE site (for purchase)

• Website: https://sale.alibaba.com/pages/diqe4z176/index.html
• Products are classified as surgical and non-surgical masks

In addition to statewide efforts to provide funds and supplies to health care industry, government agencies and local organizations are also working together to provide assistance to people, communities and business are severely impacted by coronavirus. The Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce has compiled a comprehensive list of such resources and efforts that includes information listed below. For detailed information, please visit https://www.seattlechamber.com/home/membership/community-news/detail/2020/03/18/wegotthiswa?utm_source=Message+from+the+President&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=Coronavirus+Update+-+March+20

• Emergency food assistance
• Small Business Support
• Housing and Rent Assistance that includes COVID-19 Rental Assistance Fund and Seattle Chamber’s Housing Connector Program.
• Support for groups that are lack of resources, including but not limited to residents without health insurance and/or access to sick days, residents with limited English language proficiency, Healthcare and gig economy workers, and communities of color. This effort is fund by the COVID-19 Response Fund at the Seattle Foundation https://www.seattlefoundation.org/communityimpact/civic-leadership/covid-19-response-fund
• Support for art organizations and workers
• Donate blood https://www.bloodworksnw.org/
• In-kind donations of food, supplies, and furniture needed for the isolation, quarantine, and recovery sites that the County has set up and individuals in needs, including students and homeless.
• The Seattle Chamber is also setting up a fund called the Keep Workers Safe and Healthy Fund.
  • The goal of the fund is to keep healthcare coverage intact for employees through April 2020, and to keep employees safe by reimbursing employers for janitorial services, protective equipment, and supplies.
  • Fundraising goal is $10 million. Please contact pledge@seattlechamber.com to make a contribution to this fund. The Chamber is working to set up a website to accept online contributions.

Dear WSCRC Members and Friends,

The Washington State China Relations Council hopes you are doing well despite the uncertainty and challenges brought upon by COVID-19. In response to this crisis, governments at the federal, state, and local levels have created assistance programs to help businesses and their workers to withstand these difficult times. Public health organizations publish and advocate guidance on how to protect yourself, your family, and your workplace. The amount of information available can be daunting. We did some research and collected a list of resources that are most relevant to businesses and individuals in the region to share with you. We are hoping this will provide a useful one-stop shop for information and save you time navigating these various resources. We will update the list as the situation develops.

Even though we are not able to host regular events and programs at this time, we are working very hard to organize webinars on COVID-19, bringing experts in related field t to share insights and best practices in response to this situation.

The trade war and coronavirus have inevitably made it challenging, more than ever, to promote stronger U.S.-China relations. We hope you stand with us and continue your critical support of the mission of the WSRCR.

Stay safe and stay healthy.

J. Norwell Coquillard

Man Wang

The Governor’s office COVID-19 resource list for impacted Washington businesses and workers: https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/covid-19-resources/covid-19-resources-businesses-and-workers

• This list includes information on available financial assistance (including SBA loans), export assistance, employer and works assistance, and insurance assistance.
• Please note for the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans, the following counties are currently eligible to apply: Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Klickitat, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Thurston, Walla Walla, Whatcom, and Whitman. According to Washington State Department of Commerce, more counties are likely to become eligible in Washington State.

City of Seattle’s Resource list: http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/covid-19

• This list provides information on support to: healthcare, immigration-related issues, food support, utility bills, worker/artist support, small business/non-profit support, and home education support. It’s worth noting a few assistance measures created for small businesses and non-profits, including
• B&O Tax Deferment
• City of Seattle Small Business Stabilization Fund – an emergency fund that’s approximately $1.5 million that provides working grants up to $10,000 to qualifying small businesses. http://www.seattle.gov/office-of-economic-development/small-business/small-business-programs-/stabilization-fund-
• COVID-19 Response Fund – a one-time operating fund created by a coalition of philanthropy, government, and business governors and hosted by Seattle Foundation. It will provide support to organizations working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus. For more information, please visit https://www.seattlefoundation.org/communityimpact/civic-leadership/covid-19-response-fund.

Lists of banks offering assistance to customers affected by Coronavirus https://www.bankrate.com/banking/coronavirus-list-of-banks-offering-help-to-customers-financial-hardship/

 

Washington State Department of Health https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus (available in multiple languages)

• This website provides information on symptoms and testing, coronavirus fact sheet and educational materials, industry-specific response guidance, and updates on coronavirus development in Washington State.

Public Health – Seattle and King County https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/disease-control/novel-coronavirus.aspx (some information available in multiple languages)

• In addition to regularly updating the coronavirus situation in King County, this site provides import resources for the general public, schools and childcare, workplaces and employers, community and faith-based organizations, and travelers.
• Information on Public Health Recommendations is available in multiple languages. Here is the link to the Chinese version https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/disease-control/novel-coronavirus/protection/chinese.aspx

Port of Seattle COVID-19 Response Page https://www.portseattle.org/news/updates-ports-covid-19-response

• Provide updates on SEA airport, maritime facilities, and employees and community partners.

Snohomish County COVID-19 Response page https://snohomishcountywa.gov/5589/COVID-19-Response

• Snohomish Health District provides up-to-date resources and guidance in the region https://www.snohd.org/484/Novel-Coronavirus-2019

Center for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

• Frequently Asked Questions are available in Chinese https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html

World Health Organization https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019; https://www.who.int/zh/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 (Chinese page)

• When to use a mask https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
• Coronavirus myth busters https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters