The rubble in Diyarbakır, Turkey.
Paul Bass Photo
Stepping up: Kadir Catalbasoglu Tuesday at Brick Oven Pizza.
The tragedy unfolding in his native Turkey prompted Kadir Catalbasoglu to do what he usually does when people need help: He got busy.
Catalbasoglu has put together a fundraiser for victims of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that has claimed more than 7,000 lives and counting in Turkey and neighboring Syria.
The fundraiser takes place Thursday at Brick Oven Pizza, the popular neighborhood spot Catalbasoglu has operated for a quarter century at the corner of Howe and Elm streets. Catalbasoglu will donate all revenues from customers that day to the earthquake relief effort coordinated through Turkey’s U.S. embassy.
“We’ll be cooking for the victims of the earthquake,” Catalbasoglu said during a conversation on the “Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” program. “I wanted to do something to help.” The restaurant is open daily from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Diyanet Mosque, the epicenter of the New Haven region’s 2,000-strong Turkish-American community, is also coordinating relief efforts. People can drop off new or like-new clothing at the mosque at 531 Middletown Ave. or direct financial donations through options pictured above.
Catalbasoglu with Dwight neighbor Kate Walton, who is helping to coordinate the relief effort.
Catalbasoglu moved to New Haven 30 years ago at the age of 22 from his native Giresun, Turkey (which produces an estimated 30 percent of the world’s hazelnuts). In addition to the pizzeria he has developed housing and built deep roots in the community. When people need food at holidays or a place for communal gatherings over food, Catalbasoglu eagerly helps.
After viewing the carnage and rescue efforts this week, he decided it was time to pull people together to help his homeland. “I still love my birthplace,” he said. “I feel the pain.”
You can watch the full conversation with Kadir Catalbasoglu on the “Word on the Street” segment of WNHHFM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” program in the video above.
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