By Sunayana Prabhu
HOLMDEL – The township has heeded an appeal to help the survivors of the devastating earthquake that hit parts of Turkey and Syria earlier this month.
Holmdel Mayor DJ Luccarelli and the township committee announced in a press statement Feb. 16 that the township will be hosting a donation drive for items desperately needed in both countries. All members of the Holmdel community and neighboring towns are invited to participate. Donated items can be dropped off in the lobby of Holmdel Town Hall at 4 Crawfords Corner Road.
Donations should be limited to specifically requested items in order to expedite packing and ensure quick delivery to the affected areas. Those items include, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, pocket warmers, winter clothing like hats, gloves and jackets, and over-the-counter medications for flu, cold relief and pain relief.
“I’m very grateful to one of our residents, who first suggested the idea to the Township Committee and prompted us to organize this donation drive,” Luccarelli said in the statement. “Holmdel residents have a history of supporting neighbors during times of need and I am confident that we will step up as a community to help the victims of this deadly earthquake.”
“This is an excellent example of local government and citizens working together to accomplish something meaningful,” Deputy Mayor Rocco Impreveduto added. “I am happy this idea was brought to our attention, and I echo the mayor’s invitation for generous participation in this effort.”
Holmdel Township will be collecting items through Friday, March 10. Items will be shipped to the affected areas of Turkey and Syria through participating aid organizations.
On Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake and aftershocks hit the southeastern part of Turkey bordering Syria, devastating both countries with the worst earthquake in the region since 1939.
A handful of survivors were pulled out of the rubble each day for nearly a week after the initial quakes, but the death toll continues to climb. On Tuesday, another approximately 6.4-magnitude tremblor hit the area, collapsing more buildings and causing panic.
As of Feb. 21, the combined death toll in both Turkey and Syria had surpassed 46,000, according to The New York Times, with thousands of buildings destroyed and hundreds of thousands of people left homeless.
Having lost homes and families, scores of children and adults have been living through cold winter temperatures in temporary shelters, supported by international nonprofits and aid workers bringing in relief items from around the world.
The article originally appeared in the February 23 – March 1, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
