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| Vol. 19, No. 1 | Sept. 2, 1999 |
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| Vol. 19, No. 1 | Sept. 2, 1999 |
When University members of the Turkish/American Student Association heard of the earthquake in Turkey, they immediately began to help out the victims by advertising the relief efforts of the American Red Cross.
"We did not launch a particular campaign ourselves because there were already several established," Berk Oktem, vice president of the Turkish/American Student Association, said. "Some of our members did get in touch with Turkish Airlines and collected some clothes and sleeping bags. However, we found little need for those kinds of supplies, so we did not launch a campuswide campaign to collect these types of goods.
"The first reports told us the main problems were associated with the lack of emergency medical supplies. The help that is most appreciated is financial donations for the purchase of needed medical supplies, and people can make contributions easily by calling the American Red Cross," he said.
The members of the Turkish/American Student Association also tried to reach most religious groups in Delaware through e-mail or fax. These organizations were encouraged to approach their communities to donate money through the American Red Cross. Fliers also have been posted on the public billboards of the University.
Contributions to the disaster victims can be made with a credit card through the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW, or by mailing a check, payable to the American Red Cross, to P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC, 20013. Please write "Turkish Earthquake Relief" in the memo section of the check.
The Turkish/American Student Association was founded about 10 years ago to help incoming Turkish-speaking students and to organize activities to help the campus community have a better understanding about Turkey. For information, send e-mail to <tanoglu@me.udel.edu>. hen University members of the Turkish/American Student Association heard of the earthquake in Turkey, they immediately began to help out the victims by advertising the relief efforts of the American Red Cross.
"We did not launch a particular campaign ourselves because there were already several established," Berk Oktem, vice president of the Turkish/American Student Association, said. "Some of our members did get in touch with Turkish Airlines and collected some clothes and sleeping bags. However, we found little need for those kinds of supplies, so we did not launch a campuswide campaign to collect these types of goods.
"The first reports told us the main problems were associated with the lack of emergency medical supplies. The help that is most appreciated is financial donations for the purchase of needed medical supplies, and people can make contributions easily by calling the American Red Cross," he said.
The members of the Turkish/American Student Association also tried to reach most religious groups in Delaware through e-mail or fax. These organizations were encouraged to approach their communities to donate money through the American Red Cross. Fliers also have been posted on the public billboards of the University.
Contributions to the disaster victims can be made with a credit card through the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW, or by mailing a check, payable to the American Red Cross, to P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC, 20013. Please write "Turkish Earthquake Relief" in the memo section of the check.
The Turkish/American Student Association was founded about 10 years ago to help incoming Turkish-speaking students and to organize activities to help the campus community have a better understanding about Turkey. For information, send e-mail to <tanoglu@me.udel.edu>. 
-Gail E. Walford
