Nicole stepped in immediately. She began visiting Ilan and taking him outside for short, safe outings. \u201cI wanted to come and give the family a bit of breathing room, taking him outside in a way that wouldn\u2019t put him at risk,\u201d Nicole explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.chimesisrael.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/\u05e0\u05d9\u05e7\u05d5\u05dc.jpg\")
Restoring Freedom, One Small Step at a Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
These outings give Ilan something he had lost: movement, connection, and a sense of freedom. They also give his family something just as important, relief and the reassurance that his anxiety can ease.
Nicole shared photos from one of their outings with Yochi, who was deeply moved. \u201cI saw a sense of calmness in his face,\u201d said Yochi. \u201cAfter the distress of being cooped up at home that his mother described, it was such a relief to see him looking content.\u201d
\u201cI think this small act has brought him a much needed change of atmosphere,\u201d said Nicole. \u201cIt\u2019s joy from the simplest things, like sitting in the playground, observing, and just getting out of the house for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Volunteer Driven by Purpose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Nicole volunteers at Chimes through the FIDF Impact program, which provides scholarships to former IDF combat soldiers in exchange for meaningful community service. She came to Chimes with experience and a deep commitment to people with disabilities. Now, in the midst of war, that connection carries even greater meaning. \u201cWhat I\u2019ve gained from visiting Ilan is a sense of fulfillment, knowing that I am easing things for his family. It felt like a small contribution I could make during the war,\u201d Nicole said. With the support of our volunteers and donors, we continue to reach those who need us most and ensure that, even in the most difficult moments, they are not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When war disrupts daily life, people with disabilities face some of the greatest challenges. They lose daily routines and miss critical therapies. Structure disappears, therapeutic and developmental progress slips, anxiety rises, and isolation deepens. Under Home Front Command directives, we have closed our daytime frameworks for people with disabilities. Many of our clients remain confined […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":29175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\u201cIn high school, I volunteered with Krembo Wings,\u201d she said. \u201cI loved the sense of fulfillment I got from working with children with disabilities. That\u2019s what led me to choose Chimes.\u201d
At Chimes, that connection deepened. \u201cWhat makes Chimes unique is the weekly connection with the children. You really get to know them, even if they can\u2019t communicate in typical ways, sometimes through gestures, or even just their eyes,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.chimesisrael.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/\u05e0\u05d9\u05e7\u05d5\u05dc-\u05d1\u05d2\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4.jpg\")
Small Acts of Extraordinary Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Across the country, we at Chimes Israel continue to act on this same responsibility. Our teams and volunteers go where they are needed. We support families at home. We maintain connection, care, and stability, even when our centers cannot operate.
\u201cHelping people with disabilities is especially important during times like this,\u201d said Nicole. \u201cDaily life becomes so much more difficult. Even small acts of help can make a meaningful difference for people with disabilities and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nMaking These Lifelines Possible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n