Mobberley villagers support Turkish mum's earthquake appeal

Nilgun Oneren has been overwhelmed by support from the local community as donations flooded into her home.

The 38-year-old year old lives in Mobberley and was moved to tears when the parish council offered to turn their Rajar Building into an emergency collection point.

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Wellwishers have handed in bags bulging with winter clothes, food, sleeping bags, tents and toiletries.

“I can’t thank Mobberley Parish Council enough for opening their doors to donations,” said Nilgun, who lives in the village with six-year-old son, Ege.

Nilgun Oneren and son, Ege (Image: Nilgun Oneren)

“It is great to see how people have connected and reacted to the disaster.

“People have been so kind and generous. I have a car full of clothes and was running out of space in my small home.”

Cllr Hannah Moss, chairman of Mobberley Parish Council, said: “We want to do all we can to help these people who have lost everything.

“It is wonderful to see the whole community pulling together to support Nilgun who has family and friends in Turkey.”

Mobberley Primary School, where Ege is a pupil, has also offered to support the appeal.

Nilgun emigrated to Knutsford from Istanbul eight years ago and is now a British citizen.

She works as a functional lead in IT services at Manchester University.

“It is devastating,” she said. “One of my friends pulled his grandma and aunt from the wreckage.

“He has lost other relatives, it is so sad.

“I heard about a mother who lost her two-year-old son and husband.

“I have friends there and I am in touch with people on the ground.

“They say they desperately need tents, sleeping bags, baby food and warm clothes.

“It is snowing there.

“People who have been rescued are dying because of hunger and the cold.

“Even people who were not trapped and able to get out of their houses are struggling to survive.”

Nilgun says the catastrophe is far worse than we realise.

“It is terrible, people have to bury loved ones in bin bags because the country has run out of body bags,” she said.

“Motorways and airports have been damaged so it is hard to reach the villages.

“We just want to help in any way we can.”

Nilgun is appealing for coats, jumpers, trousers, hats, scarves, gloves and snowsuits for babies and children.

Blankets, camping gear, thermos flasks, tinned food, nappies, sanitary pads and cleaning and hygiene products are also needed.

The mercy mission is being co-ordinated with The Liverpool Turkish Community.

Parish councillors and villagers have offered to drive all the donations to a central collection point on Merseyside, from where they will be driven to Turkey by Barta Logistics.

The Rajar Building will be open for donations from 9am to 10pm, Monday to Friday.

If the main door isn’t open, press the door bell and the access code will be given. Items are to be left in the foyer.