TOMS RIVER - Nearly a month after students across New Jersey were sent home to finish the remaining semester online, one international student wanted to help support his local community with a massive donation.

After returning home to be with his family in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, Donovan Catholic High School junior Chenxi Mark Bao shipped and donated 10,000 protective face masks to his school on Wednesday to help those in need, according to school officials.

The school administration then made the decision to contact the Community Medical Center in Toms River so that they can use the protective face masks, according to Donovan Catholic spokeswoman JoAnn D'Anton.

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"Everyone at Community Medical Center is extremely grateful for the donation of masks from Donovan Catholic," said Patrick Ahearn, CEO of Community Medical Center. "As healthcare workers continue to face incredible challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed strength, compassion and above all, kindness from our community."

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The masks will be used for medical workers on the front lines battling the pandemic, as well as helping patients who have may or may have not been infected with the virus, said officials.

"Community Medical Center thanks Chenxi Mark Bao, his family and the entire Donovan Catholic family for their generosity, which will help to keep our team safe as they care for our patients," said Ahearn.

Donovan Catholic is also in the process of soliciting donations within the campus to help donate for medical supplies, according to D'Anton.

As of Friday morning, there are now 3,105 people who have tested positive for coronavirus in Ocean County, according to the county's health department. Of the approximate 91,000 residents in Toms River, 508 people have been infected in the township which is the second-highest total amount of cases in the county.

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On Thursday, firetrucks, ambulances and police cars had filed the westbound lanes of Route 37 as they made their way toward Community Medical Center to honor staff of their hard work and bravery.

"The outpouring of support that we’re getting form the community is extremely overwhelming," said Keri Britske, who heads the hospital's COVID-19 donation and public inquiry command center.

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She said Thursday's procession was the latest in a series of efforts by residents and business owners of Ocean County to support Community Medical Center's workers: from daily coffee donations, to church and restaurant gifts of food.

Joshua Chung is the 9-5 breaking news and weather reporter. A lifelong Jersey Shore resident, he is a recent graduate of Michigan State University. Contact him at jchung@gannettnj.com, 732-557-5748 or on Twitter @Joshchunggg