Help Preschool Kids with Disabilities in Ashkelon

Dear Friend,

When we last shared an update from Ashkelon, we told you about the urgent need to build a new, fortified early childhood center for children with disabilities. These children—some of the most vulnerable in Israel—had been left without access to care for months during the war, as rocket fire made our current facilities too dangerous to open. Our current makeshift center, spread across four repurposed private homes, was never meant to carry the weight of this responsibility—and the war made that heartbreakingly clear.

Today, we want to share an important and game-changing development.

In order to build a facility that will truly protect and nurture our children, we have decided to purchase the land ourselves. This was not in our original plan. Until recently, the municipality was expected to allocate land for this project, but that option is no longer available. If we want to make this center a reality, and secure our children’s future, we must act now.

This shift brings both opportunity and challenge. The opportunity: We will own our land, making our organization stronger and more stable for generations to come. The challenge: Our funding gap has increased to $2.5 million.

It’s a steep hill to climb, but we are more determined than ever.

Land in Ashkelon for public services is almost gone. We’ve identified one of the last available parcels suitable for our needs. If we don’t act now, it will be lost. Owning this land means we’ll never again have to compromise on the safety, accessibility, or dignity of the care we offer.

Can you imagine the relief of a parent knowing that their child, who may need a wheelchair, a feeding tube, or constant therapeutic care, is in a purpose-built, secure environment, even when sirens sound and rockets fall? This is the sanctuary we are building: a place where children can grow, develop, and thrive, regardless of what is happening outside.

We are deeply grateful for every donor who has joined us on this journey. You’ve brought us 60% of the way there. Now, we need your help to cross the finish line.

Please consider sharing our story, renewing your support, or connecting us with someone who might join this mission. Every gift brings us closer to the day we break ground on this life-changing facility and a more hopeful, secure future for children with disabilities in southern Israel.

With gratitude and hope,

The Chimes Israel Team

Links:

• Chimes Israel Ashkelon Project Video