CFSI Awards $5,000 Discretionary Grant for Earthquake Relief Efforts in Central Turkey

On Feb. 6, 2023, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern and central Turkey, as well as northern and western Syria, causing widespread damage and tens of thousands of fatalities. It was Turkey’s strongest earthquake since 1939 and the country’s deadliest since 1268. The earthquake is estimated to have caused $84.1 billion in damage.

Several domestic and international relief organizations are on the ground to assist Turkish and Syrian residents as they begin the recovery process. Over the years, the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana has supported areas devastated by natural disasters, including emergency funding to nonprofit organizations on the frontlines.

One of the local organizations assisting is WaterStep. They are partnering with three local organizations (Supplies Over Seas – SOS, Love the Hungry, and the UPS Foundation) to send additional aid to Turkey. Approximately 80 BleachMakers (which will impact around 200,000 people), 70,000 meals, and 200,000 medical supplies left Louisville and arrived in Turkey on Feb. 18 to provide much-needed aid to Turkish and Syrian people. The organizations have continued to deploy equipment as it becomes available to minimize pain and suffering due to unsanitary conditions and unsafe water.

To support these international relief efforts, CFSI awarded a $5,000 grant from the Community Impact Fund to WaterStep, who is accepting donations to support these relief efforts. The check was presented at a World Water Day breakfast event at WaterStep headquarters in Louisville on March 22.