How to Help Survivors of the Earthquakes in Turkey & Syria

Image credit: New York Times

The loss of life from the cataclysmic earthquake in Syria and Turkey is truly hard to process. Over 30,000 people have died and more than a million people are in need of aid and shelter in rain, snow, and temperatures that often dip below freezing.

Our team at the Community Foundation has put together a list of organizations for those looking to give in support of earthquake survivors. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the scale and urgency of humanitarian needs will continue to increase. We have focused on international aid organizations that are either based in the United States or have offices here so that donors can give with ease from their Donor-Advised Funds.

Our donors have asked for this guidance, and we share this summary with our local community. It is by no means an exhaustive list.

All of these charities work on many simultaneous international relief efforts. If donating through your Donor-Advised Fund, please specify “earthquake relief” in the description field in the donor portal.

Note: All charities listed on this document have received high ratings on either Charity Navigator, Guidestar, or both. The highest rating on Charity Navigator is 4-stars and the rating system on Guidestar goes from bronze to silver to gold to platinum.

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Doctors without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres is donating emergency and trauma kits, medical supplies and blankets to dozens of hospitals; running mobile medical clinics for people displaced by the earthquakes; dispatched extra medical staff—including surgeons—to hard-hit health facilities. Read more and make a gift.

40 Rector St., 16^th Floor
New York, NY 10006
212-679-6800
donations@newyork.msf.org

Guidestar rating: Platinum
Charity Navigator: Four Star

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Global Giving is collecting donations to help fund emergency medical workers’ ability to provide food, shelter and medicine, among other necessities. As needs in Turkey and Syria change, the organization will focus on long-term assistance. Learn more and make a gift.

Global Giving
1 Thomas Circle NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
202-232-5784
help@globalgiving.org

Charity Navigator: Four Star
Guidestar rating: Platinum

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International Medical Corps is expanding their health, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), protection (including child protection and gender-based violence support), non-food item distribution, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services to address immediate needs of the women, children and men affected by the earthquakes. Read more and make a gift.

International Medical Corps
12400 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1500
Los Angeles, CA 90025
310-826-7800
inquiry@internationalmedicalcorps.org

Guidestar rating: Platinum
Charity Navigator: Three Star

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Save the Children is coordinating closely with local partners on the ground, including Turkish Red Crescent and Support to Life, to distribute tents, hygiene kits, clothing, heaters, blankets and other essential items. In North West Syria, they’re working with long-standing local partners to distribute tents and winterization kits as well as provide health centers much-needed fuel. Read more and make a gift.

501 Kings Highway East, Suite 400,
Fairfield, CT 06825
203-221-4000
supportercare@savechildren.org

Guidestar rating: Platinum
Charity Navigator: Four Star

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ShelterBox works to provide families with life-saving shelter and essential tools and supplies after displacement from natural disasters and conflict. ShelterBox teams are on the ground in Gaziantep- a large city in southern Turkey where ShelterBox has pre-existing humanitarian partners and suppliers. They are working around the clock to mobilize aid that has been pre-positioned in strategic hubs around the world into the affected regions of both Syria and Turkey and responding with blankets, mattresses, winter clothes, heaters, and shelter kits that include tarpaulins, tools, and solar lights. Learn more and make a gift.

ShelterBox
101 Innovation Place
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
(805) 608-2400
info@shelterboxusa.org

Guidestar rating: Platinum
Charity Navigator: Four Star

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Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) Foundation is a global medical relief organization that is working on the front lines of earthquake relief providing medical care for earthquake survivors. Read more and make a gift (for online gifts, select “Earthquake Relief Syria” under programs to support).

PO Box 34115
Washington, DC 20043
info@sams-usa.net
202-930-7802

Guidestar rating: Gold
Charity Navigator: Four Star

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United Nations Refugee Agency is working on the ground providing blankets, emergency shelter, lifesaving aid and medicine. Learn more and make a gift.

USA for UN Refugee Agency
1310 L ST NW, STE 450
Washington, DC 20005
1-(855)-808-6427

Guidestar rating: Platinum

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United Nations World Food Program USA, has on-the-ground support underway providing food assistance for earthquake survivors in both Turkey and Syria. Learn more and make a gift.

UN World Food Program, USA
1725 Eye Street NW, Suite 510
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 627-3939
giving@wfpusa.org

Charity Navigator: Four Star

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World Central Kitchen: WCK is delivering fresh meals to families displaced and local authorities stretched thin due to the scale of the disaster. Learn more and make a gift.

World Central Kitchen
Attn: Donor Services Team
200 Massachusetts Ave NW,
7th Floor
Washington, DC 20001
hello@wck.org

Charity Navigator: Four Star