The volunteers from the Ismaili Community Engaged-in Responsible Volunteering (i-CERV) have been active for many years. However, 2017 marked a particularly challenging year for the Houston area, and i-CERV rose to the occasion in remarkable and noteworthy fashion.

i-CERV organized multiple food, blood and supplies drives at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center in Sugar Land, TX, as well as provided voluntary service to pack and serve meals at food banks, shelters and other locations around Sugar Land and greater Houston.

 i-CERV volunteers also used the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center as a staging venue for impacted residents while arrangements were made to find the residents temporary living arrangements in a shelter or with friends and family.

During and after Hurricane Harvey, the i-CERV presence in the community was notable, from the start of rescue efforts and through the weeks of immediate recovery and rebuilding efforts.  i-CERV contributed over 13,000 hours of voluntary service, which included serving three meals a day for 13 consecutive days at the George R. Brown Convention Center and four consecutive days at the NRG Center shelter locations. i-CERV also packed meals for over 10 consecutive days at the Houston Food Bank, ultimately preparing over 150,000 meals.

Additionally, i-CERV volunteers assisted for three days at St. Laurence Catholic Church and seven days at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Sugar Land, while also assisting with the rescue and relief efforts in Fort Bend County.  i-CERV collected over 30,000 pounds of household supplies and food for Hurricane Harvey victims, which were distributed through area churches and organizations, such as St. Laurence Catholic Church, St. Theresa Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Guadalupe Church and Mamie George Community Center.

This led to i-CREV being recognized by the Points of Light Foundation for the Ismaili Muslim community’s voluntary service in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. This award was accepted on behalf of i-CERV by the Ismaili Council President Murad Ajani at a ceremony presided over by all five living former-Presidents of the United States.