Reaching Out During Crisis
At the start of the war, while Israel’s Homefront Command ordered our centers closed, we reached out to the staff and families of all 25 centers and programs to see what could be done to help.
Ashkelon: The Epicenter of Vulnerability
Our most vulnerable populations were in Ashkelon, shut in their homes and air raid shelters as thousands of rockets flew toward them from Gaza.
The city of Ashkelon and the people of our centers there have suffered through many operations due to the proximity to Gaza. Usually, during an operation, the center will close three days to a week, and then they return to work.
October 7th: A Day That Changed Everything
October 7th was different. The attack left both our employees and families in chaos. Some employees were living in the Gaza area kibbutzim, hiding from the Hamas terrorists in their saferoom.
Families in Fear and Chaos
The Ashkelon families were hiding because it was reported that the terrorists were also in their city on that day and days afterward.
Basic Needs in a Time of Emergency
As the Hamas rockets rained on Ashkelon, employees at Chimes centers worked hard to learn where everyone was and what they needed. They needed food, diapers, and medicine, but local stores were closed, and even if they were open, most could not leave their children alone to get these essentials.
Innovating in the Face of War
With our centers closed, their children home, and their spouses called up to the army, they had to stay home to care for their disabled children and could not earn for the family. As time passed and the war continued, we realized we had to find innovative ways to provide services to these families that had never been more needy.
