On May 31, 2008, the Kentucky Chinese American Association (KYCAA) held the "Heart to Heart - China Earthquake Relief" event at the Lexington Chinese Christian Church in Nicholasville, KY. The event was co-sponsored by the Lexington Chinese Christian Church.

KYCAA president Mickey Xun kicked off the event by acknowledging the extensive support from the local community to the victims of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan, China. George Zhang and Lillian Rogers read the letter from the Chinese Ambassador to the US expressing thanks to KYCAA's relief effort. Ms. Marianne Blodgett from the Lexington Mayor's Office spoke on behalf of Mayor Jim Newberry; Principal Dee Patrick of Tates Creek Elementary School spoke on behalf of the Fayette County Schools. Both offered their support to the earthquake relief effort.

• KYCAA raised $17,200 as of May 31, 2008.  Donors range from children in Fayette County Schools to large corporations.  The funds have been used to purchase surgical gloves and water filter/purifiers. 
• A shipment of 225 cases of surgical gloves totaling 112,500 pairs was sent to Sichuan on a UPS chartered flight on May 30, 2008.  They arrived at Chengdu early in the morning on June 2, 2008. 
• 300 portable water purifiers (providing clean water for up to 12,000 people in remote areas) and a medium-sized water purifier (for 800 people) were purchased and prepared for shipment on June 3, 2008 via UPS and United Airlines. 
• 7 large boxes of new tents and blankets will also be shipped on June 3, 2008. 
• All pre-owned supplies donated to KYCAA will be shipped separately as additional paperwork is needed to clear the customs.  

The event was covered by various media outlets.  WLEX (Channel 18) and WKYT (Channel 27) aired the news footage in their evening news on May 31, 2008.  The Lexington Herald Leader ran two stories about the earthquake relief effort.  These reports can be found at

• Herald Leader (5/30/2008): Groups seek donations for Chinese
• Herald Leader (6/1/2008): Concert, prayers and packages for China (also cited by China Daily)

KYCAA acknowledges the tremendous support by the community on the earthquake relief effort.  Numerous members and friends donated funds and participated in volunteering work.  Bluegrass Media Consultants, Gift in Kind International, UPS, and United Airlines donated their services; and Children of four Fayette County Schools (Meadowthorpe Elementary, Tates Creek Elementary, Athens-Chilesburg Elementary, and Dunbar High), Lexmark International Inc. and Ashland Inc. donated funds. 

Future donations of supplies for the earthquake relief effort will be handled by Gift in Kind International.  Individual donors may visit its web site at http://www.giftsinkind.org/ for instruction.  KYCAA will continue to take monetary donations to purchase and ship supplies especially the much needed medical supplies for the disaster zone as well as to help reconstruction effort.