Turkish Americans living in Minnesota have spent the week contacting their loved ones after a devastating earthquake rocked Turkey and Syria, leaving over 21,000 people dead as of Friday morning.
"The first news we received was there was an earthquake in Turkey of a big magnitude," said Pinar Basgoze, president of the Turkish American Association of Minnesota. "Immediately everybody got contacted with their loved ones as far as I heard from our community here. I was in contact with my own family."
Basgoze says there's long been a discussion about the risk of a massive earthquake in southeast Turkey given its location along a long, deep fault line.
"This type of earthquake, of this magnitude, was going to happen at some point. That was not a surprise. People were aware, but how can you be ready for a disaster like this?" Basgove said. "You can never be ready for a disaster like this."
As recovery efforts continue in both Turkey and Syria, the Turkish American community in Minnesota is coming together to raise funds and gather items to support relief efforts.
On Friday, between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., monetary donations can be made at a donation desk located inside Med Box Grill in Chanhassen.
They are also asking for donations over the weekend at Med Box Grill, including diapers in a variety of sizes, women's hygiene products, children and youth fleece pajamas, and baby formula.
"This is not only just come and drop your monetary donation, we do believe especially after the pandemic, we do believe that after a disaster like this our community should get together as part of the healing process. Although we have not received any heartbreaking or devastating news from the loved ones of our community members, everybody is still so devastated. People need to come together."
Basgove says any donation, big or small, will make an impact in the long recovery journey ahead.
"The people in Turkey are the most hospitable and welcoming people. The best food you could ever eat comes from south/southeast Turkey. There's so much to say. It's so heartbreaking to see what is happening over there."