Seattle Restaurant With Wuhan Ties Launches Donation Drive

SEATTLE, WA — In Seattle's bustling South Lake Union neighborhood, the Zheng Cafe serves up a menu of steamed buns, noodle dishes and hot soups, inspired by what its married owners call "Wuhan comfort food." Something that's more than just a culinary choice — it's part of a shared history together.

52-year-old Gregory Wetzel was born and raised in Los Angeles and moved to China as an adult to teach elementary school. While teaching in Wuhan in 2010, Wetzel met his future wife, Jing. The pair moved from China to Seattle in 2014 and opened a food truck in the city in 2016. Since then, Zheng Cafe has grown into a popular full-service restaurant and racked up quite a few glowing reviews along the way.

Now, the Wetzels are hoping to channel some neighborly goodwill into action, as Jing's hometown faces down a fast-growing outbreak of a new virus that has sickened thousands.

Since the 2019 Novel Coronavirus surfaced in China's Hubei province in December, more than 7,700 people in the country have been diagnosed, and at least 170 people have died. Several million residents remain in lockdown. The New York Times reports the number of coronavirus infections in China has already surpassed the SARS outbreak from the early 2000s.

In Washington, a Snohomish County man was diagnosed with the first known U.S. case of the virus earlier this month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just four other cases have been confirmed domestically to date.

News of the growing outbreak has hit especially close to home for the Wetzels. Jing's entire family still lives in the Wuhan area, and Gregory worries daily about his in-laws, friends and former students.

"Her parents are on lockdown, but holding up," Wetzel told Patch. "Her aunt and uncle are in the hospital with fevers, [and] we have not heard from them since the 21st. We are very worried about them."

As health officials work to prevent the virus from spreading globally, Chinese companies are struggling to keep pace with intense public demand for breathing masks.

To help address the shortage, the Wetzels have set up a donation box at the restaurant to collect N95-rated respirator masks, hand sanitizer, medical-grade goggles and disposable hazmat suits to send back home. Wetzel said the need for high-quality breathing masks is especially high because they need to be changed often to continue to be effective.

HOW TO HELP

Zheng Cafe
230 6th Avenue North, Seattle
Hours: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Wednesday - Saturday)
Phone: 206-588-2882

Wetzel said the logistics of getting the equipment to China are still being worked out, but he felt the need to lend a hand as soon as possible.

"We are not even sure how to get the supplies there, but we have to try."

A photo posted on the restaurant's Facebook page Wednesday showed donations had already started to pour in.

Latest on the 2019 novel coronavirus in the U.S.

NATIONWIDE: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, five people in four states have tested positive for the virus, including the Snohomish County man. Among those tested, 68 people have returned negative results, and tests are still pending on 92 people.

WASHINGTON: The state Department of Health said at least 16 people in our state have been tested for the virus. The Snohomish County man remains the state's sole confirmed case and remains in isolation at an Everett hospital. Health workers continue to monitor 67 people for potential "close contacts."

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