As coronavirus takes its toll on SC workers, one USC fraternity steps up to help
Every day, Alberta Garcia comes to work at USCs Kappa Alpha Order fraternity with a smile on her face.
Garcia cleans the fraternity’s house at the University of South Carolina. But as soon as coronavirus shut down restaurants, bars and schools, many jobs dried up.
Not Garcia’s. The fraternity has kept Garcia, their “right hand woman,” on part-time to help clean the house and has started a gofundme to raise money for the single mother of three.
The gofundme, titled “Alberta’s Family,” has raised more than $3,100 — exceeding its goal of $3,000 — since it began on Friday, according to the site. Garcia told The State the money would be used to pay for food, bills and other costs. Her daughter, Litzel, 21, helped translate.
Asked how the money would help, Garcia got choked up and said she wasn’t expecting it and that she was thankful.
In the three years Garcia has worked for Kappa Alpha, she never asks for anything, no matter how much she may need it, said JT Isgett, the president of Kappa Alpha.
The lion’s share of the money donated to the gofundme — most donations are between $10-$20 — came from chapter members who see her as part of the family, Isgett said. But others connected to the chapter, such as the house dad and alumni, also donated.
“This woman is like the best woman in the world,” Isgett said.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.