Blanket Drive for Syrian Refugees in Turkey

A “Blankets for Refugees” project has been initiated in Fairfax County to provide comfort and warmth for the many Syrian war refugees in Turkey. There are currently over 2 million Syrian war refugees, mostly women and young children, living in temporary refugee camps with little viable means of keeping warm in the approaching bitter winter weather. Numerous faith organizations have been invited to participate and all Fairfax County residents are invited to contribute to those in desperate need. Most of the refugees fled the violence with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and have only donations and the kindness of others to sustain life and family cohesiveness.

Background information: Fairfax County has a sisterhood relationship with the city of Keçiören in Ankora, Turkey. A delegation from Northern Virginia recently visited Turkey as part of a cultural exchange program with the American Turkish Friendship Association, a sponsor of the drive. Part of that trip included a visit to a Syrian refugee camp. Some delegation members from that trip, including Purcellville Mayor, Bob Lazaro, and Northern Virginia Regional Commission Director, Mark Gibb, have initiated the blanket drive in the region

Under direction of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman, Sharon Bulova, and in conjunction with Hizmet Relief (www.hizmetrelief.org) headquartered in Carlstadt, NJ (formerly Helping Hands Relief Foundation), an effort has been organized to collect and provide blankets for refugees from the Syrian civil war. Paxton Van Lines has agreed to provide boxes, trucks and transportation for shipping. Anyone wishing to participate can donate new or freshly laundered, gently used blankets to one of the several collection points, to include:

·      Offices of Board of Supervisor members on weekdays and during business hours during the week beginning 2 December and no later than 5 December.

Office of Chairman Sharon Bulova
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 530, Fairfax, VA 22035

Office of Mason District Supervisor Penelope A. Gross
6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003

Office of Braddock District Supervisor John C. Cook
9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA 22015

Office of Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust
6649-A Old Dominion Drive, Mclean, VA 22101

Office of Lee District Supervisor Jeffrey C. McKay
6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310

Office of Mt. Vernon Supervisor Gerald W. Hyland
2511 Parkers Lane, Mt, Vernon, VA 22306

Office of Springfield Supervisors Pat Herrity
6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152

Office of Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey
4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, VA 20151

Office of Hunter Mill District Supervisor Catherine Hudgins

12000 Bowman Town Drive, Reston, VA 20190

·      The meeting houses of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) will also be used as collection points on 7 December, between 9 AM and 5 PM at the following locations:

Annandale Stake Center

3900 Howard St, Annandale VA 22003

Ox Road Chapel

4911 Ox Road, Fairfax VA 22030

Sydenstricker Chapel

6942 Sydenstricker Road, Springfield VA 22152

McLean Stake Center

2034 Great Falls Street, Falls Church, VA  22043

Mount Vernon Stake Center

6219 Villa Street, Alexandria, VA, 22310

23rd Street Chapel

745 23rd Street South, Arlington, VA  22202

Oakton Stake Center

2719 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, VA 22124

Blankets will be taken to a central gathering point on 7 December when they will be boxed for shipping to Turkey for delivery and distribution in the camps by a local relief agency.  Please call Ken Orton with any questions at 703-455-5363.