Springfield non-profits step up to provide relief to Turkey-Syria earthquake victims

David Fowler, president of the Springfield Rotary Foundation, made a call to Midwest Mission asking if they could send thousands of Meals Ready to Eat to people in Turkey struggling to recover from last month's devastating earthquake.

He got an interested response and realization of a dilemma. There was no good way to get the meals from Springfield to the Mediterranean.

But Midwest Mission knew just who to call. The group had been working with the Northstar Foundation to send supplies to wartorn Ukraine. During a conversation about another shipment, the situation about meals to Turkey was brought up.

"We've sent eight shipments to Ukraine with Northstar (and) we were talking about the ninth," said Mallory Webster, Midwest Mission communications manager. "Within an hour, we went from no route into Turkey to a clear route and being able to mesh those two things and get those meals in."

That quick turnaround allowed for Midwest Mission to send the first shipment of food to Turkey on Friday. The donation included 35,000 MREs and "personal dignity kits" – basic hygiene items such as a towel, washcloth, toothbrush and toothpaste, a razor and a bottle of shampoo. Shipments will continue over the next two weeks to the millions of people affected by the earthquake along the southern Turkish-Syrian border.

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Fowler and the Rotary Club managed to get the MREs through a group called Baja Bridges based out of Clarksville, California. Originally, Fowler said, the MREs were going to be distributed in Springfield, but after the earthquake in Turkey, plans changed.

"It morphed into this, 'Oh, we need to send money to Turkey and Ukraine,' and now we're into raising money for more supplies," Fowler said. "It's just part of what Rotary does."

Midwest Mission made the contact with the Turkish consulate in order to ensure the food reached its destination.

The MREs include high-calorie, high-nutrient food such as pasta and omelets. Webster said the need for food in the earthquake-affected area has become more important by the day.

"They're trying to get as much fuel into their body as they can at one time," Webster said. "Food is becoming more and more scarce, so having a meal that is going to give them a lot of calories and a lot more energy in one sitting really benefits them and gives them energy to find more food later."

Fowler said the Springfield Rotary Club was attempting to raise $125,000 to send even more supplies to the country. So far, $6,000 has been pledged.

"We already have a list from the consulate in Turkey asking us to provide a certain kind of blanket, because it gets cold," Fowler said. "We have a medicine list that we're trying to acquire. They're asking us for blood analyzers and blood analyzer-related equipment. They don't have a power grid left, so they're asking us for lights...We're raising funds to be able to get that equipment donated or get it greatly reduced in price and send those products that they're specifically requesting in another container."

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Illinoisans also are providing other humanitarian aid to the Turkish and Syrian people.

Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Emergency Management Agency announced Friday the state will send emergency medical supplies, such as ventilators, basic and advanced life support equipment, and operating room equipment, to help in the long-term treatment of survivors.

An estimated 41,000 people died in the initial earthquake and subsequent aftershocks with thousands of others injured and still recovering.

Fowler admits that what his organization sent Friday was a "drop in the bucket" for what people need for survival. Webster said the mission is also to send hope.

"Our prayer is that they see a way that their life is going to get better and that this is not the end for them, but that they have hope and empowerment," Webster said. "That's our mission, to send hope and empowerment around the world and around the corner."

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield non-profits team up to help earthquake victims in Turkey