Orange County Family Seeks Donations for Earthquake Victims in Turkey

A cook prepares food at I Can Korean Barbeque in Tustin, Calif., in Feb. 14, 2023. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

After one of their homes was nearly destroyed during the massive earthquake in Turkey earlier this month, a family is using restaurants it owns in Orange County, California, to gather supplies and donations for victims of the disaster.

“[The earthquake] was terrible. It killed so many people. We knew we had to do whatever we could to help,” said Esat Karaaslan, restaurant co-owner of I Can Korean Barbecue, who immigrated from Turkey to the United States over 20 years ago.

Beran Karaaslan (L) and Esat Karaaslan at I Can Korean Barbeque in Tustin, Calif., on Feb. 14, 2023. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

The restaurant has three outlets in the county and each is now being used as hubs for donations, along with a fourth the family owns in Irvine called the OC Fish Grill.

According to Karaaslan, the family is additionally working with Turkish Airlines wherein the family delivers donated goods daily to the airline at Los Angeles International Airport and they ship them to Turkey at no cost.

Non-perishable donations needed include coats, shoes, other clothing, and tents.

According to the Wall Street Journal, experts have estimated at least two million in Turkey lost their homes during the initial Feb. 6 earthquake and the aftershocks that have rocked the country as well as neighboring Syria since.

According to Karaaslan, his staff has rallied for the cause.

Two chefs combined efforts, he said, and came up with $3,000 to donate and others have given what they can.

“They are so generous and kind. We are all one big family here,” he said.