An 83-year-old woman makes a NT$800 donation during a meeting with Father Giuseppe Didone.
Taipei, April 5 (CNA) Father Giuseppe Didone (呂若瑟) expressed gratitude for the donations made by Taiwanese to provide materials vital to quarantine work in Italy, one of the countries worst-hit by the new coronavirus, said the hospital in northeastern Taiwan where the Italian priest has served for over a half century.
More than 2,500 donations were made, surpassing NT$10 million (US$333,000) in total, to the fundraising center of Camillian Saint Mary's Hospital Luodong in Yilan County after Didone issued a public letter Wednesday asking for help to save his "other homeland."
After the appeal many Taiwanese either wired money or made donations in person at the center, some indicating a desire to repay the care of Italian priests who have worked at the hospital over the years, center head Lee Li-chiu (李麗秋) told CNA Saturday.
"Love increases in size like a snowball," she said, adding that Father Didone was very grateful for the love expressed by Taiwanese people.