By Alesha Capone
The Asian Business Association of Wyndham has collected about 3000 masks to donate to the local community.
The ABAW president, Larry Zhao, said the group had about 1200 members who had recently come together in an online Facebook group.
He said some members had decided to donate masks to the wider community, after Premier Daniel Andrews last week recommended that adults across Melbourne wear face masks outside of their homes in situations where social distancing is not possible.
When Mr Zhao first contacted Star Weekly about the project, ABAW members had collected 1500 masks to donate, but this doubled to 3000 masks within 24 hours.
“We want to donate up to 1000 masks to any associations which may need them, such as Mercy Hospital, Western Health or any schools in Wyndham,” Mr Zhao said.
“Also, we will donate up to 10 masks to an individual person.”
Mr Zhao said that some Wyndham residents might not know where to buy masks, or might not be able to afford to buy them.
He also said it was common to wear masks in public, in some Asian countries.
“Some Asian people in Melbourne also often wore masks, before the government said to,” he said.
Mr Zhao said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was important for the community to stick together.
“I would just like to wish all the best to everyone and keep looking after each other,”
Contact Mr Zhao at larryzhao2020@gmail.com or on 04205 80908 for details on how to obtain a donated mask.
