Chinese parents from Stevenson School host several free mask giveaways

SALINAS, Calif. (KION)

UPDATE 4/10/2020 11:00 a.m. Chinese parents at Stevenson School are hosting free mask giveaways in several locations around Monterey County Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, there will be mask giveaways in two locations.

• Carmel Middle School from 12 to 2 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m.
• Salinas Police Services Headquarters at 312 East Alisal Street from 3 to 5 p.m.

Parents will be giving away 5,000 masks at each location.

On Saturday, parents will be hosting mask giveaways at four additional locations.

• Greater Victory Temple at 1620 Broadway Avenue, Seaside from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Stevenson School Pebble Beach from 1 to 2 p.m.
• Carmel Presbyterian Church from 3 to 4 p.m.
• Monte Vista School in Monterey from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Parents will be giving away 5,500 masks at Greater Victory Temple, 500 at Stevenson School, 1,040 at Carmel Presbyterian Church and 2,520 at Monte Vista School.

They ask that community members only go to the distribution locations in the area they live in. They will be giving out 10 masks per car.

The parents said the masks are made in China. They got 25,000 masks from a seller in Los Angeles who is a friend of one of the parents. They are new, 3-layer disposable mask that are not intended for surgical use. Parents are trying to get as many as 20,000 more masks, but said it is getting harder as countries ban mask exporting.

The parents have already distributed masks, surgical masks and N95 masks at several locations, including the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, the County Department, several police departments, Meals on Wheels, 10 post offices and more.

In total, the parents are expected to give out more than 43,000 masks.

PREVIOUS STORY: The Salinas Police Department announced that it will be working with Chinese parents at Stevenson School to give free masks to the public.

The giveaway will be held in front of the new police building at 312 E. Alisal Street Friday from 3 to 5 p.m.

There are 5,000 face masks that will be given away. They will be packaged and given to the public using tongs.

This is how the mask distribution will work:

• Drivers will get into the parking lot through the Murphy Street entrance. They will be asked to stop.
• Cars will pull up in front of the distribution table one at a time.
• A package of masks will be delivered through the car window from people wearing personal protection equipment.
• Once drivers have their masks, they leave the parking lot through the East Alisal Street exit so the next car can pull up.

The police department said Emily Yang Bauer, a Pebble Beach resident and Stevenson parent, contacted them and organized the event. She asked that police share the following letter:

“We appreciate Chef Fresé and Sgt. Lane for allowing us to distribute the masks to the public at their new station.

"Many of the Chinese students who attend Stevenson School live in China. I write as one of several who live locally. In consultation with local public health authorities, all of Stevenson's Chinese parents have initiated a plan to support Monterey County during the pandemic as a way to express our gratitude to the community that has always welcomed and cared for our children.

"Started this Tuesday, we have begun to distribute more than 43,000 masks--including face masks, surgical masks, and N95/KN95s--to Monterey Department of Health, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, the Seaside Family Health Center, the Monterey Emergency Operations Center, the Salinas Police Department, Post offices, Meals on Wheels, and most of all, to essential service providers and our public.

"After what China experienced in the past 2 months—lock downs and shutdowns—masks make a fundamental and perhaps the only difference for controlling the Covid-19 at a public level.

"A friend of mine, Dr. Li and her husband are both 1st line of defense in a major Wuhan hospital. She wants me to send this message to our public as we pass out the mask:

"First of all, do not be overanxious. There are two main bring-homes after fighting for the past two and half months: 1. All my friends, family and extended family, close to 100 people, across all districts of Wuhan, none got infected. Why? They only followed one rule, after I strictly warned them, that’s always wear a mask and try their best not to go to even supermarkets. After the lockdown, follow the government rules, stay inside the home. 2. A few of my patients went to ICU, other than one female in her 50s with a few underlining health issues, all survived. All infections and deaths have reasons. It’s best to stop contact with any potential source of the virus.
Emily Yang Bauer"