TD's Helmer pushes for donations after quake leaves thousands houseless in Turkey
Collapsed structures and debris in Van, Turkey
Lora Helmer
With the recent devastating earthquake striking Turkey and Syria, local Lora Helmer is calling out to anyone that can contribute to providing shelter food and other necessities for people in those countries finding themselves houseless and lacking food and water.
In Turkey, at least 5,434 people were killed and 22,168 injured, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Some 8,000 people have been rescued from the rubble.
Helmer of Dallesport is a spokesperson and fundraiser for ShelterBox USA.
ShelterBox has provided shelter and lifesaving supplies to more than 2 million people in 13 countries. And it has been in the Syria/Turkey area for the last 12 years and has detailed information about what the citizens of this area need, she said.
Some 7,000 have been reported killed as a result of the quake as buildings have collapsed.
“One of the most powerful earthquakes to hit the region in a century rocked residents from their slumber in the early hours on Monday, Feb. 6, around 4 a.m,” according to a report from CNN.com. “The quake struck 23 kilometers (14.2 miles) east of Nurdagi, in Turkey’s Gaziantep province, at a depth of 24.1 kilometers (14.9 miles), the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.”
“For Syrians devastated by civil war, the earthquake aftermath is 'a crisis in a crisis'
A series of aftershocks reverberated through the region in the immediate hours after the initial incident. A magnitude 6.7 aftershock followed 11 minutes after the first quake hit, but the largest temblor, which measured 7.5 in magnitude, struck about nine hours later at 1:24 p.m., according to the USGS,” CNN said.
Back in The Dalles, Helmer said she has been involved with ShelterBox for the last 5-6 years primarily as a spokesperson and fundraiser.
“This appeals to me because this organization has the highest ratings on Charity Navigator and GuideStar, and because their all volunteer Response Team members deliver boots-on-the-ground assessments of what's needed and help the recipients set up whatever they need,” she said.
ShelterBox works in concert with in-country partners. Donations will go to the critical need for shelter, hygiene kits, warm clothing, clean water and other essential day-to-day needs.
To donate, click here.
