Hi, my name is Maral Sahagian and this is my first Gofundme appeal to all people especially my family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, past, present, near and far.

During the early morning hours on Feb 6th, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 hit Turkey and Syria. It caused unimaginable devastation and claimed thousands of lives. As the aftershock of the quake continued spreading fear throughout the city, the numbers of the dead and injured kept climbing, unfortunately by the thousands. The apartment building across from the childhood home where I grew up in the Al-Azizieh section of Aleppo collapsed while people were sound asleep in their beds. The corner of the sidewalk where people's dreams and memories came crashing down with the broken windows and concrete was where I stood every morning to board my elementary school bus as a child.

I've always believed in taking care of my own and doing whatever I can to help loved ones through life's unexpected misfortunes. Once, a few years ago, I came very close to establishing a GoFundMe campaign when a best friend from childhood passed away right at the start of covid. He left behind a young wife and three boys, the oldest being seven and the youngest being a few months old. As I was educating myself on how to establish a GoFundMe page for his family covid hit and I felt bad to ask for support when friends were losing jobs and loved ones due to the pandemic.

The earthquake in Syria came during a time when people, post-pandemic, were trying to recover from a 10-year war that consumed every family's savings and emergency funds. Also, the economic embargo and hyperinflation left many paralyzed and in despair. The devastation is grave on multiple levels and the need is so immense that I am finally at the realization that personal funds can only help a few but a collective effort can truly make a difference.

The funds raised here will be sent directly to the individuals most affected by this tragedy. We can not wipe away the emotional scars but at least we can help alleviate a portion of the financial burden by helping with expenses related to the hospital stay, medication, rebuilding, renovations, school tuition & daily nutrition. Any leftover funds will be donated to a US non for profit supporting the education expenses of families in need in our community.

Thank you for supporting my effort but most importantly, please forward my appeal to your friends and loved ones.

"I am only one, but I am one. I can not do everything but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." Edward Everett Hale