Fan-tastic response to earthquake appeal
Fans of Hamilton Accies Football Club answered a call to help the Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal.
Supporters across the community, working with club directors and Lanarkshire-based charity Baby Bank Scotland, turned up prior to their Scottish Cup fifth round clash against Hearts on Friday night with literally thousands of donated items to help those suffering in the aftermath of such destruction.
Clearly saddened by the devastating scenes abroad, fans donated items including blankets, clothes for all sizes and ages, scarves, hats, gloves and coats to help some of the millions of people affected in southern Turkey and western Syria, where some 36,000 people died, with hundreds of thousands still missing following the 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that hit on February 6.
Now Hamilton Accies, including one of the club’s directors, Turkish national Serif Zengin, who has family affected by the quake, are working with the UK Disasters Emergency Appeal to ship out the goods to Turkey in the coming days.
Serif said: “I am so very proud of our supporters and community during these really hard times.
“We even had young children come here on Friday night handing in clothing, new and nearly new, for those affected. I was also really touched by the young girl who donated colouring books and crayons for the Turkish and Syrian children, as she was worried in case they had lost their own colouring sets in the disaster.
“The support has been amazing and we are all truly humbled.”
Fellow director Colin Mcgowan added: “Once again Hamilton Accies fans stepped up and donated in their droves to help the millions of people whose lives have been destroyed by these earthquakes.
“Working in conjunction with Baby Bank Scotland we will now ensure that the 200-plus bags of donated goods are shipped abroad as soon as possible.
“Thank you to everyone across the community who donated.”