On December 6, 2011 Zakat Foundation of America, filled a 40 foot container of clothes, shoes, blankets, school supplies, toys, medical supplies, personal care, and other emergency relief items and shipped it to Syrian refugees in Turkey. The container is valued at about $150,000 and is now on its way to southeastern Turkey.
Funds for the shipment were collected from community members and some items, such as toys, jackets, shoes, and blankets, were purchased from local businesses. Zakat Foundation of America also collected new winter clothing, including hats, scarves, jackets, gloves, and socks, to aid refugees against the cold Turkish winter. A local business, Skip's Wholesale, provided blankets at a discounted price and donated blankets to the shipment as well.
As political unrest and a government crackdown in Syria continues, Syrians have fled to neighboring countries to settle temporarily. More than 7,500 Syrian refugees have fled to camps in Turkey, and others have sought refuge to either Lebanon or Jordan.