Hello --

The earthquake in Turkey's southern and south-eastern corridor has left hundreds of thousands homeless, without heat, clothing, beds, toilets, and basic necessities.

I am organizing this campaign to purchase sleeping bags for displaced families. Hotcore in Vancouver can provide hundreds of sleeping bags at a generous discount. These are warm enough to make it through the balance of winter and spring for about $90 each including taxes and shipping to Toronto. My goal is to send at least 500 sleeping bags.

Once they arrive in Toronto, I am sending them to a site near Dufferin & Finch organized by the Toronto Turkish Consul General. See Twitter link here: https://twitter.com/MPPKerzner/status/1624162920778063878

Turkey has been my second home since 1994, when I went there to teach at a private school. I owe a great deal to the Turkish friends and strangers I met, for their care, hospitality, generosity, and thoughtfulness. Over the years, I have also heard from many of my own friends and family about their experiences in Turkey--similarly replete with wonder and warmth.

Thank you for considering this campaign. Images of receipts will be provided.