Cafe Olive in Kendal raise funds for Turkey / Syria earthquake victims

Farit and Sarah Altinyollar, who have owned Café Olive on Stramongate for six years, were so moved by the plight of a friend who had lost eleven members of his family in the disaster that they decided to donate 50 per cent of last Saturdays takings to charity.

The couple, who live in Staveley, are sending £1370, raised through the cafe and deli's takings, and individual donations, to four separate causes.

Half will be divided between a Turkish and a Syrian family, sent directly through local communities, while half will be split between the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and the Syria Relief charity.

READ MORE: 'I don't know if they are alive' - Family of Turkish barber missing after earthquake

Farit, originally from the southwest of Turkey, who moved to Kendal in 1997, said: "My wife Sarah and I were so upset and we had lots of people coming in and asking us about our family, and if they could do anything.

"I'm not from that area of Turkey but our Turkish supplier in Manchester, a lad who works there – his parents lost their house, and 11 of his family died, so that's also what spurred us on to do it.

"It was a very emotional day for us – lots of people came in for food, some came in just to donate, and at the end of the day, Bea, who works in the cafe, she had a £10 tip, and she donated that – such a lovely gesture, and it had us in tears.

Farit freshly prepares the food in Cafe Olive (Image: Darren Shield, Newsquest)

"We were so busy the atmosphere was amazing – I did double-prep on Friday so we would have enough food and everything went – we had a few olives and a little cheese.

"People were so helpful, there was a queue outside – people came from Windermere, all around, sending us messages – people donated even after we closed on Saturday.

"The Kendal community is exceptional – it has proved it time and time again – thankyou so much."