Offaly restaurant owners overwhelmed by response to Turkey earthquake appeal

TURKISH restaurateur Kenan Pehlivan and his wife Sarah Thomas have said they are overwhelmed by the generosity of people who have donated money for relief efforts following the earthquake.

The Blue Apron owners said they never ask for help in this way publicly but on this occasion decided to request donations for a trusted charity of their choice, the Ahbap Association (ahbap.org), a non governmental organisation which has no political or religious affiliations.

Sarah said she became emotional when she saw the money coming in: “They were dropping in envelopes, even coming to my door with money to send on to people who are affected by the earthquake. Sometimes I was in tears when people were handing me the money. Because I know that it's hard earned.”

Kenan Pehlivan is from a region in the north of Turkey which was unaffected by the massive earthquake but he is all to aware of the impact because he was still living in the country when a similar disaster occurred in 1999.

“Where I lived is in an earthquake zone as well so I know that it's not easy. One day you wake up and then you have nothing left. It's crazy that in one day everything is gone. You have to rebuild your whole life and you need help,” he said.

He recalled the earthquake 24 years ago: “I remember waking up and everything was shaking. We didn't really get affected because it was places far away from us that were affected but it's horrible, horrible.”

The award-winning chef said he is very grateful to all who have offered their assistance.

“People are very helpful. A lot of people are sending goods but the need now is money because they have to build again.”

He said it is estimated that the reconstruction of the country will cost at least $30bn.

“You have to imagine, it's the size of Bulgaria. It'll take two or three years to rebuild. And some of the buildings were very historical and they have to rebuild those again like the original version.”

Sarah said that after supporting rescue efforts, providing tents for survivors, and supplying water and food, Ahbap is now beginning to clear sites for rebuilding.

Darren Butler, Bank of Ireland, said he decided to hold a fundraiser in the Tullamore branch after seeing how shocked one of his children was when she heard the news on her way to school that day.

“And I saw the post on the Blue Apron's Facebook page. And that's what prompted me that we should do something in the bank,” he said.

A tea and coffee morning was held last Friday and a total of €1,200 was donated. “People were very generous, they were dropping in 20 [euro notes] and 50s. It was amazing, we were taken aback by it.”

The 6.4 magnitude hit Turkey and Syria on February 6 and killed more than 50,000 people. Kenan Pehlivan said he no longer tunes into the news about the disaster.

“I'm not watching it any more, it's very upsetting,” he said.

People can continue to help by donating to the Blue Apron on Harbour Street or directly by logging onto the Ahbap website.