Sycamore High School is a huge advocate for helping and working for greater causes. From Fashion for the Cure to Unified for Uganda, SHS students have taken the initiative to raise awareness and collect donations for various areas. 

   Now, the Chinese Club has taken it upon themselves to help raise donations to fight the widespread coronavirus in China. With the disease’s outbreak in late winter, death tolls in China have accumulated to over 2,000—SHS’s Chinese Club has recognized this, as well as the dire need for aid that comes along the severity.

   The Chinese Club will be raising donations, which they will send to the Tzu Chi USA organization. This organization has been shipping medical supplies to Wuhan, the city that the virus had its outbreak, and is now expanding to other Chinese cities. They purchase coveralls, respirator masks, and more from the donations, which they then directly send these to doctors, nurses, and hospitals in China. 

   The Chinese Club has made paper cranes and earrings to collect donations. A donation of $1 exchanges for a paper crane, and a donation of $10 or more exchanges for a pair of handmade earrings. They were collecting the past two weeks in the Commons during both lunches. 

   “I think it’s a really good idea and I think it’s a good way to show that us as high schoolers are really aware of what’s going on in the world and really care about the people around us. I think it’s going to benefit a lot of people,” said Chinese Club member Abby Motley, 12. 

   Senior Angela Peng helped make cranes, and she expresses her passion for the cause. 

   “Many of us may not have a true sense of urgency of the need to deal with a novel coronavirus that is impacting the world. While far away from China, everyone can find out ways to help in fighting the fast-spreading virus. Through donations, we can support those hospitals in need to buy medical devices including preventive masks. Every coin counts and every donation shows your care and love,” Peng said. 

   Sophomore Anelise Kim has also helped with crafting cranes. She describes the urgency of aiding the coronavirus, as well as personal connections.

   “We’ve decided to do this because of the immense devastation the coronavirus has done and there are people close to some of us that are in Wuhan currently,” Kim said.