For a few hours on Sunday afternoon, a steady stream of vehicles lined up outside the Lakeview Senior Center in Irvine, waiting to drop off coats, blankets and other donations for the victims of the calamitous earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria last week.
Trash bags filled with supplies, bursting at the seams, were wheeled into the donation site on carts. Volunteers whipped open the backs of box trucks to find piles and piles of donations.
People gave enough during the donation drive on Sunday, Feb. 12, to fill an estimated 3,400 boxes, which will be sent to those impacted by the earthquake.
Approximately 150 volunteers came together, said René Williams of Rotary District 5320 in Southern California, to assist with the donation event, organized by the Rotary Club of Irvine, the city of Irvine and nonprofits Sabil USA and Zakat Foundation of America.
Another organizer was Team Kids, a youth organization that had children write letters, translated into Turkish, that will be placed in the pockets of coats. The Orange County Fire Authority also assisted with the unloading of donated goods on Sunday.
The Tustin-based Sabil is handling the boxing and transporting, while Turkish Airlines will deliver the supplies, according to a news release.
For those who missed the Sunday drive but still want to help, the organizations are collecting new blankets, tents and sleeping bags. These items will be accepted at Sabil’s office at 14712 Bentley Circle, Unit B, in Tustin until noon on Thursday, Feb. 16.
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