A total of 20 tons of high-quality apples donated by Xu Tao, a citizen of Penglai, Yantai, are sent to Hubei province. [Photo/dzwww.com]

A total of 20 tons of high-quality apples donated by Xu Tao, a citizen of Penglai, a county-level city in Yantai, East China's Shandong province, have arrived in Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak in China.

With the help of the Alibaba Foundation, Hema Fresh and Cainiao, Alibaba's logistic platform operator, the 1,176 boxes of apples were sent to 21 hospitals, communities and institutions in Hubei province.

Communities in Hubei province receive Penglai apples donated by Xu Tao, a citizen of Penglai, a county-level city in Yantai, East China’s Shandong province. [Photo/dzwww.com]

Yang Mao, a staff member of the department of prevention and control for novel coronavirus pneumonia in Xishui county, Hubei province, expressed his appreciation for the donations.

"It not only helps us practically, but also spiritually and emotionally," said Yang, who is also responsible for receiving and coordinating the distribution of donated items in Hubei.

A local health center in Hubei province receives apples donated by Xu Tao from Penglai. [Photo/dzwww.com]