Emergency Fundraiser for Chimes Israel’s Families in Rocket-besieged Areas

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 check on their needs, listen to their troubles, and provide comfort and assurance. As time passed and the war continued, we realized we had to find innovative ways to provide our daily paramedical and educational services.

With the help of generous donors to this fund, we took our services to our clients’ homes. We purchased and distributed equipment, making an “equipment lending library” for emergencies. We bought iPads with assistive and communication applications for our children and adults with disabilities to stay in touch with their teachers and classmates via Zoom. We purchased laptops for the employees to work from home and lead Zoom meetings with their classes. Each beneficiary also received a weekly home therapy visit.

Even though our centers are reopened, there is more to do. We need to help our staff and clients get past their trauma and be better prepared for the next emergency. We are fundraising now to provide a large-scale organization-wide Resilience Training program. About 640 staff members are participating in the program, with a circle of influence to 1,200 service recipients (each year) and their families. With the resilience training, we hope to see our employees improve interpersonal communication, engage in better techniques to control personal and beneficiary stress, and better manage security vulnerabilities and crises.

As our organization-wide Resilience Training Program is underfunded, we are seeking your generous donation to this Emergency Fund to support it.