LEAD. June 2020 | Page 13

teams there with sterile gloves, filtration masks, protective suits, disinfectants, and other medical gear to allow them to continue making home visits to treat and care for children traumatized by years of rocket fire. They also arranged food and medicine to those in isolation or unable to shop, while also working with Magen David Adom to administer blood tests for coronavirus. Meantime, first responders in the Gaza border area repurposed the special ATV firefighting equipment recently donated by the ICEJ to clean and sanitize public areas from the virus, including playgrounds, schools, and parks. OTHER DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES As unemployment rose due to the coronavirus lockdowns, the ICEJ reached out to other communities in need all across Israel. The ICEJ responded to urgent requests for help on behalf of dozens of Bnei Menashe, Chinese, and Hispanic Jewish families who arrived in Israel within the past year or so and were struggling due to job layoffs and other economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis. We were able to provide them with grants and food vouchers to assist the newly unemployed and those in 13