Broken Arrow Nonprofit Hosting Prayer Vigil, Fundraiser For Earthquake Victims

A nonprofit group in Broken Arrow called "Raindrop Turkish House" is hosting two events this week to help victims of the earthquakes in Turkey.

The earthquakes killed more than 41,000 people and survivors desperately need food and shelter.

Raindrop Turkish House is hosting a prayer vigil Thursday night, and a food fair this weekend. It's two ways the group hopes will make a difference in this time of need.

Raindrop Turkish House said some of the victims are related to Oklahomans.

"We did have some members in our community lost their brother, and others lost their aunts, nieces, nephews,” Abulfaz Hajizada, a volunteer with the group, said.

Hajizada said anyone is welcome to the prayer vigil.

"We'll get together with all members of faith groups and pray for the victims and the survivors and it will be a healing time for us,” he said.

Every year the nonprofit hosts a Turkish Food Festival, which Abulfaz said draws in hundreds of people.

A food fair on Saturday will offer something similar, but on a smaller scale. A meal will cost anywhere from $6-$10, and he said there will be plenty to choose from.

"Kabobs, baklava, gyros, so lots of meat, and rice and bread and we also have lots of desserts,” Hajizada said.

Hajizada said all of the proceeds will be given to Embrace Relief, which he said will use the money to help those in need in Turkey.

Embrace Relief is a nonprofit that says on its website that its volunteers bring humanitarian aid and disaster relief to communities all around the world.

"Any dollar, anything helps, to ease, hopefully we can ease some of the pains of those people,” Hajizada said. "It's the Oklahoma Standard that we always see, that people support each other."

The prayer vigil starts Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. and the food fair is Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Both events are at the nonprofit’s location, which is near 81st and Garnett.