Local Turkish community center accepting donations for those impacted by deadly earthquake

DAYTON — Turkey is more than 5,000 miles from Ohio, but people in our community are still in pain seeing the miles and miles of destruction after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Monday.

People at the Aniska Turkish American Community Center said they have been on the phone nonstop with people who are in Turkey impacted by the earthquake that has killed more than 7,200 people.

Islom Shakhbandarov, President of the Aniska Turkish American Community Center, said he’s devastated by the images coming out of Turkey, especially after just being there in December.

>> Photos: Thousands killed in earthquake in Turkey and Syria

“It’s a nightmare and the feeling was, you know, when you feel that you can’t do nothing,” Shakhbandarov said.

Shakhbandarov’s phone kept ringing when News Center 7 spoke to him Tuesday afternoon. People were calling him from Turkey, describing what they were going through.

“They hear their loved ones and then when they hear their family and they can’t do nothing,” Shakhbandarov said.

While it’s difficult to take those calls and constantly get photos and videos from the devastation, Shakhbandarov said he is one of the lucky ones. None of his immediate family has been hurt, but some people he has spoken to haven’t been as lucky.

“I was talking [to] someone that lost very close family members,” he said. “He lost is niece, his brother and his wife. It’s difficult to kind of express this.”

>> Thousands killed by powerful quake in Turkey, Syria; death toll expected to rise

Shakhbandarov told News Center 7 that he will be going to Turkey next week to help.

To help those in Turkey, the Aniska Turkish American Community Center is accepting donations of blankets, tents, sleeping bags, pocket warmers, winter clothing and over-the-counter medications for the flu and and colds, as well as pain killers.

Anyone looking to drop off items are asked to put them in a bag with an itemized list of what’s inside.

Items can be dropped off at the center, located at 1306 E. Fifth Street in Dayton, on Friday.

Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: A rescue dog smells the debris of a ruined building while search and rescue operations continue on February 9, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)

Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: A framed portrait remains on a wall of a collapsed building on February 9, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)

Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Volunteers and rescue teams work for on a ruined building on February 10, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)

Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: Fireman Erhan Sarac and other rescue team members celebrate each other just after a successful evacuation on February 9, 2023 in Elbistan, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)

Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Family members mourn during the funeral of the victim of the earthquake to the mass graves on February 10, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)

Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: People wait for news of their loved ones, believed to be trapped under collapsed building on on February 09, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)

Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: A rescue volunteer walks around collapsed buildings on February 9, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)

Turkey/Syria earthquake ELBISTAN, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Policemen check a local man to prevent potential looting in front of ruined Elbistan Tax Office building on February 10, 2023 in Elbistan Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images) (Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images)

Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 09: Turkish and Mongolian rescue workers celebrate to survival of Hulya Kabakulak, 48-year-old survivor, at the site of a collapsed building after 90 hours on from the earthquake on on February 09, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)

Turkey/Syria earthquake HATAY, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 10: Family members mourn during the funeral of a victim of the earthquake at mass graves on February 10, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images) (Burak Kara/Getty Images)

Earthquake Residents sift through the rubble of a collapsed building, looking for victims and survivors, following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)

Earthquake An injured man is helped by a resident to slide out of the rubble of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)

Earthquake Residents walk along a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)

Earthquake Residents carry an injured child from the rubble of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighboring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)

Earthquake A resident walks along a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)

Earthquake A resident stands in front of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)

Earthquake Residents stand in front of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images) (RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)