‘Makes me feel happy and grateful;’ Dayton restaurant hosts fundraiser for Turkey earthquake victims
People gathered Sunday at the Salar Restaurant and Lounge in the Oregon District to raise money for Haytay, a town devastated by the recent earthquakes in Turkey.
>>PHOTOS: Salar Restaurant Fundraiser for Turkey Earthquake Victims
News Center 7′s Taylor Robertson was there Sunday afternoon and the food prepared was by Turkish people living here in the Miami Valley. She says you could smell the authentic food if would were walking in the Oregon District on Sunday.
The money raised in the event went to a great cause.
It will go directly to the Ahiska Turkish Community Center for those hurt by the recent earthquakes in Turkey.
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“Our president is in Turkey currently and all of the funds we will be raising; we’re gonna wire it to the Red Cross in Turkey to help those victims,” said Ali Shakhmandarob, co-chair for the Ahiska Turkish Community Center.
The tickets for the event were sold out as they collected almost $10,000 before they even started serving the food.
“I can’t believe like two weeks ago, we were watching TV at my house and decided oh, lets do something,” said Margot Blonet, owner of Salar Restaurant. “Now, we’re here.”
“Makes me feel happy and very grateful, said Shakhmandarob. “Like how much money we have raised and how good we helped.”
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Robertson says the menu features Turkish food prepared by Turkish mothers and grandmothers.
“Yeah, everything is authentic Turkish food,” Shakhmandarob said.
Blondet told Robertson the fundraiser made Salar feel less like a restaurant and more like a home.
“There were like kids yelling ‘Mom, Mom,’ this and that,” she said. “They were helping, and so it was super nice to have them here. It’s a great turnout. We’re super happy.”
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Robertson reports it is not too late to donate.
You can drop off donations at the Ahiska Turkish Community Center.
