DIRECT AID TO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN ANTAKYA

We are raising funds to directly help people who have lost their homes, and in some cases loved ones, to the devastating earthquake in Turkey.

Many of you know that our daughter’s husband is from Turkey. Many members of his family and their friends have lost their homes in the ancient and beautiful city of Antakya, one of the areas in Turkey that was hardest hit by Monday’s earthquake.

In the first night after the earthquake, 25 people sheltered at one of our son-in-law’s family member’s homes, and the next night there were 60 people there, with no running water, electricity, or heat, in sub-freezing temperatures.

The situation in Antakya is dire and there is immense suffering. A reporter for the Economist wrote on Twitter on Tuesday of seeing “Apocalyptic scenes here in Antakya. Corpses wrapped in blankets lining the streets, survivors still being pulled from the rubble, practically every other house flattened. Rescue teams overwhelmed.”

The funds we are raising will be used to help family and friends in Antakya begin the process of recovery and somewhat regain a sense of normalcy in the very difficult months ahead. It is hard to gauge right now, but most likely many of his relatives and their friends have lost everything they owned and will be unable to move back into their damaged homes. These funds will go a long way to help people rebuild their lives.

We are hoping to raise as much money as we can to assist them. Please help if you can. Thank you.