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Cicero Chaplain Ismail Vargas returned from Puerto Rico after volunteering for more than a week to help people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Photo courtesy of Ismail Vargas

Cicero Chaplain returns after volunteering to help residents in Puerto Rico

Posted on November 15, 2017November 15, 2017 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Cicero Chaplain returns after volunteering to help residents in Puerto Rico
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Cicero Chaplain returns after volunteering to help residents in Puerto Rico

Cicero Chaplain Ismail Vargas returned from a week long volunteer trip to Puerto Rico where he worked with communities there to help cleanup and restore properties for residents following the devastation caused by hurricane Maria.

Cicero officials donated funds to help cover the costs so Vargas could work as a volunteer among the thousands of volunteers who traveled to Puerto Rico in recent months.

“The devastation I saw was a lot to bear and every day we tried to help in every way possible. There is still no electricity or running clean water in many parts of the island. So we went out to serve many communities by bringing them food, medication, water filters, solar lights, messages of hope and much needed prayer. In many other areas, we were clearing roads that were filled with debris, placing roofs on many houses that had no ceilings, and digging out entire homes that are being affected by the mudslides currently happening due to all the water build up on the island,” Vargas said.

“After a long 10 days, I am happy to be back home and ready to continue serving our community in any way possible. I ask that we all continuously keep the island of Puerto Rico in our prayers as there is still much work to be done to help bring the island up and running as it was before. Thank you all again for your prayers in support and I hope to continue to serve our community with all of your help.”

Cicero Chaplain Ismail Vargas returned from Puerto Rico after volunteering for more than a week to help people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Photo courtesy of Ismail Vargas
Cicero Chaplain Ismail Vargas (right) returned from Puerto Rico after volunteering for more than a week to help people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Photo courtesy of Ismail Vargas

Cicero Chaplain Ismail Vargas returned from Puerto Rico after volunteering for more than a week to help people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Photo courtesy of Ismail Vargas

Cicero Chaplain Ismail Vargas returned from Puerto Rico after volunteering for more than a week to help people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Photo courtesy of Ismail Vargas

Cicero Chaplain Ismail Vargas returned from Puerto Rico after volunteering for more than a week to help people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Photo courtesy of Ismail Vargas

Cicero Chaplain Ismail Vargas returned from Puerto Rico after volunteering for more than a week to help people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Photo courtesy of Ismail Vargas

Cicero Chaplain Ismail Vargas returned from Puerto Rico after volunteering for more than a week to help people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Photo courtesy of Ismail Vargas

Cicero Chaplain Ismail Vargas returned from Puerto Rico after volunteering for more than a week to help people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Photo courtesy of Ismail Vargas
Ismail Vargas helps distribute supplies, clothing and food to needy residents in Puerto Rico

Cicero Chaplain Ismail Vargas returned from Puerto Rico after volunteering for more than a week to help people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Photo courtesy of Ismail Vargas

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Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

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Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
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