On February 6, 2023, in the frigid pre-dawn hours, a once-in-a-century 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Türkiye. A second 7.5 magnitude quake struck just nine hours later.
The tremors toppled thousands of buildings in Türkiye and Syria, leaving over 53,500 people dead and over 107,200 injured. In affected areas, survivors were left unsheltered in the winter cold without reliable access to hygiene or plumbing.
In rapid response, Greater Good Charities deployed our U.S.-based Field Operations team and rerouted our overseas team from Ukraine to the Hatay Province to identify immediate need and expedite relief to survivors.
Within days of the initial quake, we established two relief distribution locations in Antakya with a goal of serving 5,000 to 8,000 meals daily. Lines from our food distribution sites were steady and unending as we teamed up with both local and international partners to distribute aid.
Trucks arrived daily carrying tens of thousands of pizzas and other food—thanks to donations from Mars, Nestlé Türkiye, Dr. Oetker Baking, and ItalPizza—while we worked alongside volunteers from Humanity First and Turkish Airlines to prep and distribute food and bottled water. With the team from Siobhan’s Trust, we fostered a light-hearted environment of support, making sure everyone had something nourishing to eat and drink. Thanks to candy donations from Mars, sweet treats brought an extra spark of joy to the children as they recovered from the effects of the disaster.
We also began pet food distributions for both owned and displaced animals with the help of donations from Royal Canin and Purina. Before the earthquake, thousands of stray dogs and cats roamed the cities and villages—the disaster left thousands more lost or left behind by their owners.
As the days went on, Greater Good Charities’ response grew and deepened. We expanded our food distributions to the Akcaova village and established camps in mountain villages like Alaattin. Since many people left the destroyed cities for more rural areas, these villages were taxed for resources. We also distributed food support near the Syrian border and in rural areas like Samandag on the west side of the Taurus mountain near the coast. This area being more remote, need was greater and less aid was reaching it.
We soon established a partnership with Red Crescent and worked with them to hire a Turkish chef to cook and train our chef in local dishes. They also assisted in the development of a plan for Ramadan. Together, the teams developed a flow for maximum bulk food production and distribution. We also employed local mechanics, chefs, drivers, and others at generous wages and purchased food, gas, and local goods, all working to stimulate the local economy.
By mid-March, Greater Good Charities established a kitchen at a school in Samankaya, feeding thousands a day there and at our other distribution sites. By establishing contact with a network of local mayors, we significantly expanded our pizza service and established a source for fridges and freezers for the school.
Teaming up with local animal welfare organization Haydiko Artvin, we joined their staff and volunteers as they worked to reunite pets lost during the earthquake with their owners. Extended support of cash grants and supplies helped Haydiko feed hundreds of dogs and cats in Hatay and Elbistan for months after the quakes, and also allowed them to provide medical care to animals in need.
Greater Good Charities CEO Liz Baker arrived on the ground on March 24 to join the response efforts. Cooking and serving food to the locals, she heard their stories and joined in their laughter.
Response efforts through food distribution continued into April. The mobile pizza service was not only an effective food solution, but a source of hope. The mobility of the operation allowed the team to visit villages and camps and assess both the need and appropriateness of establishing a distribution site during Ramadan before beginning to serve those impacted. Those not fasting received hot food while those who were fasting were provided with frozen pizzas to prepare and eat later.
Through music, smiles, and the breaking of bread, pizza parties offered a respite from sadness and a sense of normalcy. This work also set these communities up for ongoing support through a distribution model that continued even after our exit, transforming the school into a flourishing epicenter for the community with daily aid distributions.
While on the ground for 60 days, Greater Good Charities provided over 250,000 hot meals to thousands of earthquake victims, refugees, and rescue workers in Türkiye, with support from 70 volunteers. Our field response team fed animals and collaborated with local animal welfare organizations to help provide food to pets rescued from the rubble.
Through our established aid footprint in Ukraine and years of experienced global disaster response, we were uniquely poised to have boots on the ground in Türkiye within days of the earthquakes to provide direct and strategic aid. Your support fuels this work, allowing us not only to provide immediate aid in the wake of disasters like this, but to establish long-term lines of support.