Student fundraising project A Hand for Wuhan has purchased its first round of medical supplies for Chinese cities at the center of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Syracuse University students Ruohan Xu and Ze Zeng launched the project in January to purchase medical supplies for Wuhan, China, where health officials believe the novel coronavirus originated. The project has received support from Chinese student organizations and SU’s Center for International Services.

Coronavirus is a respiratory disease that has spread throughout China and to at least 24 other countries over the past few weeks. The disease causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, coughing and shortness of breath.

A Hand for Wuhan has raised $53,266 in donations as of Feb. 15, exceeding its goal of $50,000. Students involved in the project have used the money to purchase 934 sets of goggles, 2,500 medical masks and 4,800 cans of chicken to be shipped to the cities of Wuhan and Changsha in central China, the project said in a statement to the Daily Orange.

“We would like to express our sincerest thanks to all donors, university officials, faculty, alumni, students and parents for their support on A Hand for Wuhan Project,” the statement reads.

While the arrival time for the supplies may be delayed due to customs and logistics factors, members of the project will continue pushing for the supplies to reach hospitals at the frontlines of the outbreak as soon as possible, it said.

A Hand for Wuhan plans to purchase additional medical supplies and other necessities for cities at the center of the outbreak, the statement said.