How to support the Turkey/Syria earthquake disaster response

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Support Berber & Q's fundraising raffle

Following their East London Earthquake Appeal dinner, the team at Berber & Q are continuing fundraising efforts for Choose Love with a foodie raffle. Prizes include £300 to spend at 161 wine shop, a SkandiHus taster pottery class for two and a spirit tasting and tour at East London Liquor Co. Plus one-of-a-kind experiences such as a meal for two at Scully plus a stage in the kitchen with Scully himself. The prize draw is open until 2 April, so get your tickets here now.

#BakeForSyria

If you can’t attend the bake sales around the country, why not host your own? Buy a copy of the #BakeForSyria cookbook, which includes recipes handed down through generations from Syria, the Middle East and beyond. All profits will be donated to UNICEF UK’s appeal for children affected by the Syrian crisis. Buy the book here.

Buy a chilli sauce

Mangal 2 Restaurant is selling jars of its famous chilli sauce, donating all profits to The Turkish Red Crescent Charity. The restaurant says, “We are truly devastated by the news from Turkey. Mangal 2 owes a lot to Gaziantep. It’s the culinary capital of Turkey. Its long history as the first foray into Anatolian soil through the Silk Road has enabled this beautiful city to really be at the forefront of all immaculate Turkish food and produce for many a century.

“Baklava, pistachios, peppers, and most notably, kebaps all derive from this corner of the world. Chefs, and particularly bakers, from Gaziantep are treasured and sought after across Turkey and Europe. Think Gaziantep and you think delicious grills, soups, pastries and ingredients. It’s a place like no other.” More details here.

Host a #CookForSyria supper club

As well as raising over £1m for UNICEF so far, the #CookForSyria movement is about creating a community of support in solidarity with the Syrian people and celebrating the country’s spirit, cuisine and culture. Experiment with Syrian dishes at home, share your creations on social media with the hashtag #CookForSyria and donate to the Just Giving page, then encourage your friends and family to follow suit. Take a look at our Syrian recipes from Imad Alarnab for inspiration, including muhammara and Syrian chicken with bulgur wheat.

Follow for more ways to help

Thank you to Clerkenwell Boy for being a reliable resource for fundraising events and initiatives. His Instagram post will be updated with the latest information about how you can help. More information here.

Past events for inspiration

Earthquake Relief Bake Sale and Raffle

Four women from the food community are coming together to host a bake sale on Sunday 26 February between noon and 4pm. Istanbul-born Kurdish chef and writer Melek Erdal and chefs Melissa Thompson, Ixta Belfrage and Ravneet Gill have gathered the support of the best bakers in London (the likes of Honey&Co, Toad Bakery and Ravinder Bhogal) for the ultimate congregation of cookies, cakes, brownies and more showstopping treats.

Visit Earthquake Relief Bake Sale and Raffle, Sunday 26 February, 12-4pm, Holloway Model Bakery. If you can’t make it, enter the raffle for £5 a ticket. Buy tickets here.

Foodie prizes include meal vouchers for favourites including Chick ’n’ Sours, Barrafina and Supa Ya Ramen, as well as coffee subscriptions, Le Creuset kitchenware and Pub in the Park tickets. All proceeds will be shared between trusted charities @chooselove, @ahbap and @medicointernational.

Chefs Up for Turkey and Syria event

Join chefs Andi Oliver and Clerkenwell Boy, along with fellow top chefs including Robin Gill, Sabor’s Nieves Barragán, Francesco Mazzei and others, at neighbourhood restaurant Darby’s in Wandsworth, London for an evening of food and the chance to win some money-can’t-buy prizes.

6.30pm, Monday 27 February, Darby’s London, SW11 7AY.

Tickets cost £250 per person, all proceeds go to Action Against Hunger. Buy tickets here.