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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.”
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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.
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