CIU Student on Mission with Masks
CIU Seminary student Tiepeng Lyu and his son Thomas deliver M95 masks to the Richland County Sheriff's Department (Photo provided)
By Bob Holmes
A Ƶ student from China is meeting the critical need for M95 masks by distributing them free to those on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus.
Tiepeng Lyu, who is studying for his Master of Divinity degree, recently provided 200 masks to the Training Division of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department located in the Denny Terrace neighborhood where Lyu lives,just down Monticello Road from Ƶ.
While the masks are in short supply in the United States, Lyu says he has the masks shipped from his home country.
Lyu was doing a daily jog past the Training Division one morning and stopped inside to ask the officers if they could use the masks.
“The people there told me they desperately needed some, so I brought them to their office,” Lyu said in a phone interview.
Lyu said the officers were “surprised and happy.” The act of kindness was soon recognized by the sheriff.
“We really appreciate his efforts in supporting the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and his community,” said Sheriff Leon Lott in an email.
Lyu, who says he receives daily shipments of the masks, also provided 200 of them to health care workers at an assisted living facility and another 200 to a doctor’s office in the nearby Eau Claire neighborhood.
Lyu takes along his young son and daughter on his deliveries.
“I want them involved in this kind of activity, to show them social responsibility to our friends and community,” Lyu said.
Lyu says that because the virus broke outfirstin China, he and other believers want to help.
“We think the Chinese Christians need to do something by sharing the masks and helping people who are in need, and also have the chance to share the gospel. It is our intention to do that.”
Meanwhile, check out this Tweet from Providence Health, a Columbia hospital where CIU helped brighten the day.
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