In just 80 seconds, dozens of buildings were turned to rubble. Homes turned to piles of dust. As numerous earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria at dawn on February 6th, millions were displaced and tens of thousands were killed.
Throughout the next few days, I watched numerous organizations and countries answer the call for help. First responders and donations poured in worldwide, but after learning that these contributions may not be enough and that first responders still lack the necessary supplies and resources, I realized how essential it was to help.
When High Schoolers for Front Liners decided that they would hold a fundraiser for the refugees in Turkey and Syria, I jumped at the opportunity. The night prior to the fundraiser, I stayed up late placing a dollop of batter neatly on trays, baking them into cookies, and individually packaging them.
As we set up the bake sale outside a shopping plaza, my heart thumped with excitement. But soon, I stood there feeling awkward, approaching pedestrians and shoppers and asking them to buy our homemade cookies. But with every baked good sold and every contributor’s earnest smile, I gained more confidence. Many people stopped to learn more about the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria and pitched in however much they could. The baked goods that had covered our table at the start of the day quickly disappeared.
One particular pedestrian who stopped by our stand stood out. He explained to us that he was from Turkey, and many of his extended family still live there. While he told us that they avoided the earthquakes, he explained that many of his friends did not. He eagerly donated, explaining the helplessness he felt watching the earthquakes back in his home country.
His generous donation and personal connection to the crisis gave us insight into how much our work can help the refugees in Turkey and Syria. By the end of the day, we raised over $1,000 for the UN Refugee Agency. The results made the contribution feel more significant and though we spent only one-afternoon raising funds, the team and I created lasting connections with the folks who generously bought our cookies.
Often, when we deal with extraordinary disasters, the lives lost or injured seem almost abstract due to how large the numbers are. Fixated on just the magnitude, we overlook the individual lives and people who were affected. As I read about the millions that were caught in the earthquakes, recovering from such a catastrophe felt impossible. It seemed our work, as high schoolers, wouldn’t even leave a dent in those numbers.
However, through the connections and conversations we made with contributors, I realized how important our efforts are. While our fundraiser doesn’t compare to the billions in donations by different countries and international organizations around the world, every dollar that we can send over can make an impact on the lives we help. Without it, one less refugee could lose access to lifesaving necessities. Even if our efforts affect one person, the few hours we spent were totally worth it.
Crises can always happen. However, I hope that HSFL’s continued dedication meaningfully impacts the most vulnerable people who need help. The organization’s mission continues to draw students like me to come together so we can make a difference.
Written by Alvin Lee
June 3rd, 2023