Earthquake Relief for Yonca and Leif's Family

Yonca Ongun and Leif Woodward are in need of immediate help. As you are aware, on February 6th, 2023 a catastrophic earthquake struck southern Turkey. The magnitude 7.8 Earthquake struck while everyone was home and sleeping at 4:17 am. The city of Osmaniye, where Yonca's family is from and where most of her extended family resides, is located about 30 miles from the earthquake's epicenter. The second earthquake occurred with a 7.5 magnitude a few hours later. Yonca's immediate family is physically safe however much uncertainty lies ahead.

Sadly, five wonderful souls, who are very near and dear relatives, did not survive. We cannot begin to describe the sadness and pain we feel over their loss. The family members were cousins, aunts, and uncles whom Yonca spent her happy childhood years with. They attended every family gathering, every party, and every, wedding. Yonca called Osmaniye home because they were there. She feels a deep loss, the emptiness, and is still in shock and disbelief. I am heartbroken as I remember how they welcomed me into the family on our wedding night in 2017. Never have I met such kind and wonderful people; my life is richer for being able to call them my family as well.

Gulfidan Duran (mother) and Raziye Duran (daughter) are the sole survivors of their collapsed home in Osmaniye. They were immediately hospitalized with broken ribs and shoulders. Gulfidan's husband Saim, their son Yusuf (20), and second daughter Zeynep (13) perished in the collapse. Feride (sister-in-law) and her son Enes (4) happened to be visiting for the weekend from Mersin and also did not survive the collapse. Yusuf survived for a couple of days trapped in the debris and could be heard as rescuers searched, but ultimately was not able to be saved.

We are asking for help to rebuild Gulfidan and Raziye's lives. Everything they had known and had once owned is now gone. The City they called home is crippled, they have no home, no belongings, and an uncertain future. Yonca and I would be eternally grateful for any contribution big or small to help her family. Please know the dollar goes a very long way in Turkey and help us meet or exceed this goal.

All the funds will go directly to Duran family and be transferred via Wise.com. In the short term, it will be used for clothing, medicine, mental health support, accommodation and many more needs. Longer term, any leftover funds will go to help rebuild their lives. Thank you for your support.