5,000+ masks donated to the Glebe Centre 

A non-profit, community-based organization serving the elderly residents of the Glebe and the National Capital Region, the Glebe Centre has been continuously operating since 1886 as Ottawa's first Home for the Aged. Knowing the paramount risk that COVID-19 poses to our society's most vulnerable demographic, the Glebe Centre was one of the first retirement homes to reach out to us for help with sourcing personal protective equipment.

Without hesitation, volunteers sprang into action– organizing themselves into two separate groups in response to this call for help. The first funnelled their efforts into tackling the short-term: finding donors right here in Ottawa with resources which they'd be willing to donate, collecting and packaging said resources, and transporting it as soon as possible to the Glebe Centre before the first major wave hit. In a pandemic, every second counts, especially when it comes to dispatching all local resources in anticipation. Through the coordination made possible through community-formed WeChat group, including the same one that fundraised $23,500, 5 days was all it took for mask collection to be complete. Between April 1st and April 6th, generous families and individuals elected to donate part of, or even all the masks that they had stocked up on to protect themselves during the outbreak. As one donor put it:

 

"We, who have the option of working from home or engaging in self-isolation/self-quarantine, are incredibly fortunate to be able to do so. Our PPE, therefore, would serve a much greater purpose in the hands of those who have no such option– namely our essential workers, and the elderly rely upon them every single day." 

  

With that, the first batch of 1,611 masks was delivered to the Glebe Centre on the 7th of April thanks to the efforts of the first group. Meanwhile, the second group of volunteers (under the leadership of Yi Wang) communicated with a non-profit charity organization in mainland China to request additional supplies for the weeks to come. The Anhui Guobang Foundation graciously volunteered to donate 4,000 masks to aid the coronavirus effort in Ottawa, at absolutely no cost: shipping, masks, and import fees included. The shipment arrived on the 9th of April and was promptly transferred to the Glebe Centre on the 10th of April.

 

  In total, 5,611 masks were collected and donated to the Glebe Centre for use by nurses, centre staff, and residents. Our most sincere thanks goes out to all the parties that gave their time, effort, and resources that help keep our city strong in this hour of need.          

Group 1, Ottawa-donated masks (1,611 total)

Group 2, Anhui Guobang Foundation-donated masks (4,000 total)