Two powerful earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria on 6th February, the first near the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep, close to the Syrian border, and the second around 80 miles north in the Elbistan district. Over 37,000 people have died, with that number expected to rise further, and hundreds of thousands more have been displaced, so help is urgently needed. Here’s how you can get involved:
Direct donations – a range of charities are running a DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal to fund emergency food, shelter, medical aid and clean water, including Oxfam, The Red Cross and Save the Children. You can also donate directly to The White Helmets working in Syria.
Buy some art – The Print Club has a range of prints on sale with 100% of the proceeds going towards Choose Love; Open Space Contemporary is running an online art sale, where people can receive donated artworks in exchange for a contribution to one of the disaster relief efforts; and online gallery space AMP Art Store is hosting a print sale where 100% of the proceeds will be donated to UNICEF.
Mam Sham Supper Club – Maria Georgiou and Rhiannon Butler, aka Mam Sham, are back with another comedy supper club on 31st March at Big Penny Social. The pair will be doing a three course menu, with help from Big Has, Lucky & Joy and Happy Endings, inspired by the three comedy acts performing on the night, and all proceeds from the event will go to the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.
Royal Albert Hall Concert – Marcus Mumford, Dermot Kennedy, Hozier, James Bay, Anna Calvi and Nilüfer Yanya will all be performing at a special fundraising concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 15th April, in aid of War Child and the Turkey Mozaik Foundation.
East London Earthquake Appeal – following a fundraising dinner, the Berber & Q team is continuing the efforts and hosting a prize draw, including a stage in the kitchen with Ramael Scully and a meal for two, a £150 meal for two at Planque, a £300 dinner for two voucher at The Sea The Sea, and a £300 wine shop voucher for 161 Food & Drink. All proceeds will be donated to Choose Love and you’ve got until 2nd April to get involved.
Buy some tees – Everpress is teaming up with a range of talent, including Emma Corrin and Olivia Colman, who have designed limited edition tees, with all the proceeds going to Choose Love.
Donate to Imad’s Syrian Kitchen – the Carnaby restaurant is fundraising for those affected by the quakes, putting everyone who donates into a draw to win a three-course meal for two with Imad, with the opportunity to help choose a new dish to go on the menu.
Buy a cookbook – 100% of profits from the sale of the #BakeForSyria book go to UNICEF and proceeds from the sale of signed copies of Özlem’s Turkish Table is going to earthquake fundraising.