Love for community, America spur Fort Mill family to donate 50,000 coronavirus masks
For the Amin family, the question was not whether they would donate to help others during the coronavirus pandemic. The question was how much could the Fort Mill, S.C., family help their community and country.
That answer now is obvious: A lot.
They used connections as far away as China to do it. To start, they acquired 25,000 KN95 masks. Those masks have been donated to medical providers and first responders.
The family handled all the costs — including shipping to America, and delivery.
After the initial effort, business contacts around the world and from the local community offered donations to help the Amins. Now more than 25,000 more masks have been procured for delivery.
“People have been very generous and gracious,” said Harry Amin, patriarch of the family businesses. “This is a time when we all have something to give. ”
Amin and his sons -- Kreshan and Shahil -- operate HYLITE and other companies that specialize in sustainable energy products in lighting, and other industries. With his business contacts in China and Asia, Amin got his first 25,000 KN95 masks.
“I used the business contacts and relationships I have made to try and make a difference,” he said.
“This COVID-19 pandemic is horrifying, and frontline people are risking their lives for all of us. Helping was, and is, the right thing to do.”
Amin was born in Tanzania, Africa, but has been a resident of York County for three decades. He has built his businesses. He and his wife, Hina, also have raised a daughter.
“We all love our community and want to help it any way we can,” Amin said.
Credit the whole family for the donation idea.
Donations were sent as near as York County and Charlotte-area facilities, and as far as New York, California, and other places where the family has contacts.
“We wanted to help people any way we could,” Kreshan Amin said. “This is a great way to give back and give hope to the people, when it has been such a hard time.”
The family has always believed in giving back to the community and country.
“This is a time where we can help others,” Shahil Amin said.
