In late 2019, when a mysterious virus (later named SARS-CoV-2) began causing severe disease and death in people across China, life as we knew it was about to change. Like dominoes, countries around the world were reporting new cases, and the tapestry of daily life slowly began to unravel. With many nations closing their borders, once bustling streets were empty, workplaces closed, schools shut down, and residents were ordered to stay in their homes. It was clear that we had entered into a new era: the COVID-19 pandemic was here.

Escalating from a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’ on January 30, 2020, to a global pandemic on March 11 by the World Health Organization, it was not long after that the U.S. became the new global epicenter of the disease. By late March, the pandemic was exposing and exacerbating the vulnerabilities of health systems nationwide, leaving healthcare workers to maneuver through unprecedented procedures and make difficult decisions all on their own terms. Yet, in the face of the great suffering that was to come, Tzu Chi USA volunteers were determined to bring relief.