More than 40,000 people have been found dead in Turkey and Syria following a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake earlier this month, and that number increases each day as rescue efforts transition to recovery work. Mohamed Khairullah, the mayor of Prospect Park in Passaic County, is a Syrian immigrant with deep ties to the hardest-hit part of the country. He and fellow Syrian American mayors Andre Sayegh of Paterson and Michael Ghassali of Montvale have become the face of local relief efforts in New Jersey.

Khairullah told NJ Spotlight News that the situation in Syria remains dire and called on the international community to step up. Khairullah and other community leaders are helping organize relief drives across North Jersey, collecting donations like sleeping bags, tents, blankets, jackets, coats, diapers, wipes, personal hygiene supplies, gloves, socks and over the counter medication.

Any donations should be placed in clear bags for easy identification.

Montvale
Montvale Community Center
Memorial Drive, Montvale
Saturday, Feb. 18
10am – 1pm

Garfield
Garfield Middle School
175 Lanza Ave, Garfield (Front Lot)
Saturday, Feb. 18
1pm – 3pm

Paterson
Eastside High School
150 Park Ave, Paterson
Sunday, Feb. 19
8am to 8pm

Paterson
City Hall
155 Market St, Paterson
Weekdays through Feb. 24
9am to 4pm

Carlstadt
PORTX, Inc.
256 Paterson Plank Rd, Carlstadt
Weekdays through Fed. 28
9am – 6pm

Little Falls
Little Falls Police Department & Little Falls Rec Center
Until March 1

Hawthorne
Hawthorne High School
Until March 15