The Gaza war hit the city of Ashkelon hard with relentless rocket barrages. This situation created chaos among the families of our infants, children, and adults with disabilities. Beyond the daily anxiety and stress, parents found themselves without support, tools, or frameworks that could provide continuity in their children’s care. Instead, they were confronted with the fear of developmental regression – a reality that often accompanies a lack of regular practice and therapy.
The dire situation prompted our teams to take action and deliver vital equipment from our centers directly to the families’ homes. However, it quickly became clear that the center’s equipment was not enough. This realization gave birth to the idea of creating an Equipment Lending Library. With the help of donations to our Gaza Emergency Fund from the Jewish Federations of North America and many private donors, we were able to purchase much more equipment to meet the needs of our Ashkelon service recipients in need. Therapists who visited families’ homes while our centers were closed delivered equipment while they provided emotional support and practical tools for coping with the complex realities.
No Longer for Emergencies
What began as an emergency measure in Ashkelon’s challenging reality soon evolved into an initiative of immeasurable value. Today, the library offers families of service recipients the opportunity to borrow essential therapeutic and rehabilitative equipment such as standing devices, tablets, and iPads with unique programs, adapted chairs, physiotherapy balls, activity mats, communication devices, and more.
This equipment enables families to maintain critical progress in their children’s development, improve family connections, and even create moments of joy and normalization. One parent shared, “For the first time, our child could sit in an adapted chair and join the family at the table for meals. It changed everything.”
In addition to therapeutic solutions, the library also provides a variety of games and equipment for adults, helping them stay active at home. The games offer more than just quality time; they create a renewed, loving connection where parents can see beyond the challenges and focus on their child as a person – not a problem. These moments provide opportunities to reconnect, laugh, enjoy, and build memories that strengthen family bonds.
The lending library is an innovative and flexible approach to putting families at the center, with the goal of enabling everyone to grow, cope, and build a better future. Our donors’ ongoing support allows us to continue creating meaningful change. Thank you for enabling us to provide our beneficiaries with the tools, support, and hope they need.
