25.12.2025 11:10
Ninety-three-year-old Mehmet Özcan, who lives in the Gölhisar district of Burdur, established his own business and then turned to charitable work, building a mosque and a kindergarten. Özcan has now donated his last savings, which consists of 10 Republic gold coins, to the gendarmerie. Özcan stated, "Our soldiers are very precious to us; I wanted to help more, but this is all I could do."
Mehmet Özcan, a 93-year-old man born in the Gölhisar district of Burdur, turned to charitable work after starting his own business following his military service. Özcan, who helps mosques, built a mosque in his village with his friends. Since there was no kindergarten in his village, he also established a kindergarten, and now he has donated his last savings of 10 Republic gold coins to the Gendarmerie Public Order Foundation.
The donation made to the Gendarmerie Public Order Foundation stands out as one of the notable examples of state-citizen solidarity in Burdur, while this support based on volunteerism once again demonstrates the citizens' will to uphold public order. The donation, made to contribute to the peace and security services carried out by the gendarmerie organization, will be evaluated in accordance with the regulations and transparently. It has been learned that this in-kind assistance will be used in the services and activities conducted throughout Burdur province.
"AS MY ECONOMY IMPROVED, I TURNED TO CHARITY WORK"
Mehmet Özcan, who continued his father's profession of farming until the age of 21, stated, "I worked with my father. I went to the military in 1955 and returned in 1957. After that, my father said, 'Go ahead and establish your own home.' I had nothing; I started from scratch. I decided to engage in carrot trade. I both produced and traded. In 1963, I opened a stationery store in Gölhisar. After continuing this business in Gölhisar for 4 years, I moved to the center of Burdur in 1967. My economy was a bit troubled until 1980. As my economy improved, I turned to charity work. I helped mosques and later built a mosque and a kindergarten in my village," he said.
"OUR GENDARMERIE PUTS THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US"
Mehmet Özcan, who expressed his deep affection for the gendarmerie, said, "Our gendarmerie works 24/7, putting their lives on the line for our safety and security. Of course, if we do not help our gendarmerie, who will we help? I donated my last savings of 10 Republic gold coins to our gendarmerie. I felt very proud while making this donation. Our soldiers are very precious to us; I wanted to help more, but this is all I could do," he stated.