Kindness Blog: Restaurateurs provide masks for MHA residents
Memphis Housing Authority resident Constance Lloyd (middle) signs paperwork while receiving a donated face mask on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at Dr. R.Q. Venson Center Apartments. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Memphis Housing Authority resident Roscoe Wells puts on a donated face mask on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at Dr. R.Q. Venson Center Apartments. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Memphis Housing Authority resident Joe Wilbourn (left) signs paperwork to receive donated face masks from Tedrick Robinson (right) on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at Dr. R.Q. Venson Center Apartment. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Business partners Ronald and Carolyn Kent, (left) and King and Jasmine Chow donated 10,000 protective masks on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. The two families are co-owners of the Chow Time and China Inn restaurants.(Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
As we navigate through this difficult time of dealing with the coronavirus, it is important to capture those instances where Memphians are coming together for each other. Those acts of kindness, generous moments and just feel-good instances happening all around us. Our reporters will be out looking for these. We also want to hear from you. If you have a nomination for our Memphis Kindness blog, email us at memphiskindness@dailymemphian.com. Thank you for reading. — Ronnie Ramos, executive editor Editor’s Note: The Daily Memphian is making our coronavirus coverage accessible to all readers — no subscription needed. Our journalists continue to work around the clock to provide you with the extensive coverage you need; if you can subscribe, please do.
April 30, 2020
10,000 masks for Memphis Housing Authority residents
Ronald Kent noticed something while driving through certain areas of Memphis.
It was that the residents in Memphis Housing Authority communities weren’t wearing masks.
“It made sense that if they couldn’t afford food, they couldn’t afford masks,” Kent said.
Ronald and Carolyn Kent, (left) co-owners of the Chow Time and China Inn restaurants, with partners King and Jasmine Chow, (right) donated 10,000 masks to the Memphis Housing Authority on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 for distribution to residents at MHA properties. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Kent, his wife, Carolyn, and Jasmine and King Chow are the co-owners of the Chow Time restaurant on Hacks Cross and the China Inn restaurant on Elvis Presley Boulevard in Whitehaven.
“Everybody’s doing something for the restaurant people. People are doing something for the bartenders. But nobody is donating anything for the people who can’t do anything for themselves,” Kent said.
It took some work to source them, he said, but last week Kent, his wife and the Chows delivered 10,000 masks that are being distributed to MHA residents.
“We’re just trying to do something for the less fortunate,” he said.
April 27, 2020
Mid-South COVID-19 fund distributes $200,000
The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis announced that $200,000 from the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund has been distributed to 11 organizations.
Since March 18, $1.5 million has been distributed from the fund, which provides support to organizations impacted by the novel coronavirus. The fund makes grants weekly.
The sixth ground of grants are as follows:
- Agape Child and Family Services: $25,000 to provide emergency assistance to families experiencing hardships as a result of the recent coronavirus outbreak
- Calvary Episcopal Church: $10,000 to provide clothing, food, and hygiene products to the housing-insecure
- CasaLuz: $5,000 to provide housing, food, and supplies to victims of domestic/sexual violence in the wake of COVID-19
- Catholic Charities of West TN: $25,000 to serve 4,000 individuals through its food services program and help connect unhoused people to resources
- Church Health: $ 25,000 to support COVID-19 testing and associated expenses
- Christ Community Health Services Inc.: $ 25,000 to support COVID-19 testing and associated expenses
- Hospitality Hub: $25,000 to work with Community Alliance for the Homeless, Division of Housing and Community Development, and MIFA to provide shelter-in-place, case management, and supportive services to those experiencing homelessness in three locations
- Memphis Inner City Rugby: $2,500 to provide needed supplies to its 225 families in South City, Westwood, Frayser, Hickory Hill, and Orange Mound
- Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach: $7,500 to help provide high-risk diabetes patients receive the food they need to effectively manage the disease during the outbreak
- MIFA: $25,000 to support emergency services related to COVID-19 outbreak
- Salvation Army of Memphis and the Mid-South: $25,000 to provide childcare and meals to first responders and healthcare workers.
Individuals, businesses and foundations have donated $2.6 million to the fund. Those interested in learning more about the fund or donating can visit cfgm.org/COVID.