Cicero residents turn out to support victims of Dec. 1 fire with generous donations

Residents from the building near 16th and Austin were able to replace lost items from the destruction of their hoe at a donation event hosted Friday Dec. 8, 2023 at the PSO building hosted by President Dominick, the General Assistance Department and the Clergy Committee
Residents from the building near 16th and Austin were able to replace lost items from the destruction of their hoe at a donation event hosted Friday Dec. 8, 2023 at the PSO building hosted by President Dominick, the General Assistance Department and the Clergy Committee

Town President Larry Dominick and the Town of Cicero Board of Trustees last week organized a volunteer donation campaign to help the 17 families who lost their homes in the 16th and Austin Street Apartment building Fire on Friday Dec. 1, 2023.

Members of the community were asked if they can to help the residents who lost their homes by donating new clothing, small kitchen appliances, personal hygiene kits and toys for children and deliver those items to the Town PSO Building at 5401 W. 34th Street.

“The enthusiasm of the public to help others was amazing,” President Dominick said.

“We collected more than enough clothing, small appliances and toys to ensure that all of the 17 families who lost their homes in that terrible fire were given a chance to rebuild their lives. The timing is terrible also because it occurred during this holiday season.”

Residents from the building near 16th and Austin were able to replace lost items from the destruction of their hoe at a donation event hosted Friday Dec. 8, 2023 at the PSO building hosted by President Dominick, the General Assistance Department and the Clergy Committee
Residents from the building near 16th and Austin were able to replace lost items from the destruction of their hoe at a donation event hosted Friday Dec. 8, 2023 at the PSO building hosted by President Dominick, the General Assistance Department and the Clergy Committee

The donation distribution took place on Friday Dec. 8 at the PSO building and was coordinated by Carolyn Arias, Executive Director of the Community Mental Health Board/General Assistance Committee, with volunteers from the Clergy Committee and by Clergy Committee Director and Cicero Chaplain Ismael Vargas and the PSO staff.

The volunteers sorted all of the donations by clothing size/gender and age, and by appliance type and each of the 17 families were given suitcases to fill as they collected items of need.

Victims of the Dec. 1, 2023 fire that destroyed their apartment building near 16th and Austn were able to find clothing, small appliances and toys at a donation event hosted by the Town of CIcero.
Victims of the Dec. 1, 2023 fire that destroyed their apartment building near 16th and Austn were able to find clothing, small appliances and toys at a donation event hosted by the Town of CIcero.

“I want to thank all of the volunteers who helped make this work,” Arias said. “The outpouring of support from the community was tremendous.”

Ismael said that Clergy Committee had assigned members to work with each family to ensure that they have what they need and also to help ensure that they find alternative housing.

Arias said the Town worked with the Red Cross, Cook County and the State to assist the residents.

Trustee Blanca Vargas, Clerk Maria Punzo Arias and Chaplain Ismael Vargas work with victims of the Dec. 1, 2023 apartment building fire to replenish their belongings
Trustee Blanca Vargas, Clerk Maria Punzo Arias and Chaplain Ismael Vargas work with victims of the Dec. 1, 2023 apartment building fire to replenish their belongings

Firefighters worked for more than six hours to put out the massive fire that destroyed the apartment building which housed 18 apartments on three floors.

“Christmas is around the corner and to be able to put everything together, and to come together has been a blessing,” Vargas said.

Here is a video of the event:
https://newcicerotv.com/

“El Presidente del Municipio, Larry Dominick, y la Junta de Síndicos del Municipio de Cicero organizaron la semana pasada una campaña de donación voluntaria para ayudar a las 17 familias que perdieron sus hogares en el incendio del edificio de departamentos en la calle 16 y Austin el viernes 1 de diciembre de 2023.

Se pidió a los miembros de la comunidad que ayudaran a los residentes que perdieron sus hogares donando ropa nueva, pequeños electrodomésticos de cocina, kits de higiene personal y juguetes para niños, y entregar esos artículos en el Edificio de la PSO del Municipio en 5401 W. 34th Street.

“El entusiasmo del público para ayudar a los demás fue increíble”, dijo el Presidente Dominick. “Recolectamos más que suficiente ropa, electrodomésticos pequeños y juguetes para asegurarnos de que las 17 familias que perdieron sus hogares en ese terrible incendio tuvieran la oportunidad de reconstruir sus vidas. La temporalidad es terrible también porque ocurrió durante esta temporada navideña”.

La distribución de donaciones tuvo lugar el viernes 8 de diciembre en el edificio de la PSO y fue coordinada por Carolyn Arias, Directora Ejecutiva de la Junta de Salud Mental Comunitaria/Comité de Asistencia General, con voluntarios del Comité Clerical y por el Director del Comité Clerical y Capellán de Cicero, Ismael Vargas, y el personal de PSO.

Los voluntarios clasificaron todas las donaciones por talla/género de ropa y edad, y por tipo de electrodoméstico, y cada una de las 17 familias recibió maletas para llenar mientras recogían los artículos que necesitaban.

“Quiero agradecer a todos los voluntarios que ayudaron en este trabajo”, dijo Arias. “El apoyo de la comunidad fue tremendo”.

Ismael mencionó que el Comité Clerical había asignado miembros para trabajar con cada familia para asegurarse de que tengan lo que necesitan y también para ayudar a encontrar viviendas alternativas.

Arias dijo que el Municipio trabajó con la Cruz Roja, el Condado de Cook y el Estado para ayudar a los residentes.

Los bomberos trabajaron durante más de seis horas para extinguir el masivo incendio que destruyó el edificio de apartamentos que albergaba 18 departamentos en tres pisos.

“La Navidad está a la vuelta de la esquina y poder reunir todo esto ha sido una bendición”, dijo Vargas.