La Cañada Presbyterian Church’s Parent Education Program hosted a clothing collection for Syrian and Turkish earthquake survivors this past year.
New and gently used clothes, including winter coats and hats, were collected on the LCPC campus for adults and children left destitute by the quake. Parent Ed participant, Zara Malik, spearheaded the collection and arranged to have supplies sent to survivors through the Turkish consulate.
“When Zara contacted me asking if we could organize a collection, I knew it was something we had to do immediately,” Director Anne Bierling said in a statement. “I was so moved how in a short period of time, the participants responded generously filling several carloads with warm clothing.
“In Matthew 25, God clearly directs us to respond to the needs of the ‘least of these’ and so it was our honor to contribute in a very small but tangible way with the help of Zara who organized delivery,” she added. “Thanks to all those in Parent Ed — including alumni —who contributed.”
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit along the Syrian/Turkish border on Feb. 6. Several significant aftershocks ensued in the days that followed. The death toll rose to nearly 60,000 people after weeks of search and rescue efforts found several survivors and more than 100,000 people were injured. With freezing temperatures, warm winter clothes were desperately needed in real time.
First published in the June 15 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
