November 14, 2015, Virginia. Several organizations, including aid organizations, religious groups and elected officials coordinated with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission to collect blankets to help Syrian refugees in Turkey.
Among the elected officials was Mayor R. Scott Silverthorne; Sharon Bulova, Chairman of Fairfax County Board of Supervisor; Scott York, Chairman of Loudoun County; Osman Dulgeroglu, CEO of Embrace Relief and Abed Ayoub, President of United Muslim Relief.
Prior to the event, Ms. Bulova held a press conference at the Fairfax County Government Center, discussing the current issues in Syria and asking communities to help the Syrian refugees. Mr. Ayoub recognized the collective effort of those willing to help improve the living conditions of the Syrian refugees by providing humanitarian assistance, water, medical supplies and clothing.
In 2013, a delegation from Northern Virginia Regional Commission visited a refugee camp in Adana, Turkey as part of a cultural exchange program in collaboration with American Turkish Friendship Association (ATFA) and Pinnacle Academy. That year, they organized a Blanket Drive and collected 15,000 blankets and raised an additional $10,000 for the cause. In 2014, they helped collect 25,000 blankets and partner Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations and its affiliated organization to raise $100,000 for the refugees.
This year’s Syrian Blanket drive will run from November 9th – December 4th. Donations can be dropped off at the the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church and ADAMS Center in Sterling.
