On February 6th, a massive earthquake hit central and southern Turkey, toppling buildings, leading to death, injury, and displaced families. If you watch or listen to the news, you know that just today there were 134 aftershocks still toppling buildings. A friend of mine who I met over 15 years ago here in Baltimore had since moved back to his home country. He has a wife and two daughters and we catch up here and there about the joys of fatherhood/life. When this earthquake hit, I reached out. He and his family were lucky enough to have escaped the city without injury. I asked him at the time if I could do anything to help him and he assured me they were fine.

What he did do right away was begin collecting money for families in his area that were less fortunate. Yesterday, he reached out to me asking if I could help. There are families in need of food and clothing at this time and in the shelter where they are staying. The most efficient way we can help is to send money.

He and hundreds of others are currently living in a one-story school building. International aid is beginning to trickle in but it is not sufficient at this time. To try to put it into perspective: entire cities full of people and businesses have been destroyed. Buildings that remain standing are compromised and are falling down daily, more than a week after the initial shockwave. I have been informed that many of these buildings will not be rebuilt for another 5 years. And yet, my friend has contacted me concerned for others. This is why he and I have stayed in touch for so long.

I have set what I believe to be a very achievable short-term goal to be able to help some families in desperate need right now. This money will be collected by me and then sent directly to Serhat via Western Union for distribution where it is needed most.

I have spoken with him extensively and have been informed that they do have counselors available for those in need and for the children to help them cope. They do what they can to keep a positive mindset but right now everyone's goal must be survival. The ground still shakes. Hope is fleeting and families are hungry. Here are some photos to give some perspective of the situation. These photos are from today, 14FEB, to the best of my understanding.

Dinner rations for the families displaced from their lives

A building that collapsed today, more than a week after the initial shockwave

Foundations of buildings that remain standing are expected to have sustained damage beyond repair. Families won't be able to move back to their homes or have buildings to call home for years to come.

Cooking dinner

I was asked why it is necessary to send money. The earthquake is over. Can't they go back to work? No. The size of this earthquake has rendered entire cities unsafe to occupy. Survivors are still being rescued from the rubble.

I am not looking to fund the rebuilding of the cities. There are governments and international organizations to do that. I am only looking to gather funding to help feed some families who are in particularly desperate need right now, while these international relief organizations are still getting set up.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you are unable to donate at this time, please keep these families in your thoughts and consider what you might be able to do to help others in need. I know Serhat is.