Turkish Restaurant Owner In Parsippany Raises Funds For Earthquake Aid

PARSIPPANY, NJ — A Turkey native who owns a Parsippany restaurant sprung into action to help his homeland following Monday's deadly earthquake.

Ali Elmas, who owns Turkish eatery Bosphorus Restaurant, organized a GoFundMe for recovery efforts. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake, which struck Turkey and Syria, killed more than 12,000 people and injured tens of thousands, according to both nations' officials.

Elmas hails from Hatay, Turkey. The Hatay Province, which borders Syria, was in the earthquake's epicenter. The province suffered Turkey's highest death toll from the natural disaster, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

The Bosphorus owner says he's currently in Istanbul.

"We still have families stuck under rubble back home and 3 out of 4 homes are destroyed," Elmas said on the GoFundMe page. "Roads are not driveable as they are cracked. It's cold and rainy."

Elmas started the GoFundMe to purchase supplies, such as winter clothing, food, water and gas for the earthquake's victims. The fundraiser has generated nearly $30,000 as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Bosphorus Restaurant is located at 32 N Beverwyck Rd., Lake Hiawatha. See the GoFundMe page here.