"Zechariah 8:5" Project

And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof."

From the beginning of Hugs we felt the LORD was calling us not only to bring comfort in the traditional sense to children victims of terror, but also to provide fun games and activities for them so that they are able to regain the sense of awe and excitement of their childhoods. We wanted to see and hear them again filled with laughter and squeals of JOY. The above scripture shows that this too is the LORD’S desire…that the children should be happy and playing. How precious the sounds of their joy must be to Heaven.

Before we even had a name for the project, the LORD led us to purchase an inflatable bounce castle for a kindergarten in Sderot where a 4 year old boy was killed by a terrorist rocket attack in June 2004 leaving the rest of the children there severely traumatized. We wanted something that would make the children feel special, allow them to have fun, help ease their fears and remind them that they are not alone. The bounce castle, together with a plaque that we had printed in English and in Hebrew with the Scripture, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in the LORD.” (Psalm 56:3)

Since that time, we were given a wonderful donation of 20 bounce castles by a toy manufacturer in Canada. Praise the LORD. We have now placed 5 of them with the former Gush Katif communities now spread out over the country; 2 in Netanya; 1 in Haifa; 1 in Givon HaChadasha; 1 in Kedumim; 1 in BeerSheva; another one for a new community center in Sderot; plus 1 in each of these 4 Jerusalem communities: Gilo, East Talpiot, Kiryat Menachem, and Pisgat Ze’ev. here to read the whole wonderful story of how the LORD provided the bounce castles.

Another huge crowd pleaser has been the Big Bubbler. here to view the Zechariah 8:5 Project photo album.

By donating these bounce castles as well as other unusual toys, games and activities, we have been given a wonderful opportunity to make a long-term daily impact on many more communities whose children have been under seize due to terrorism. Then our actions will speak louder than our words.

This is why we need YOUR help. Won’t you make a generous love offering to this project? This is an offering that will indeed speak volumes of love in a country that has known more than enough hatred.

For a tax deductible gift in any amount designated for The Zechariah 8:5 Project, you can join with others in helping to purchase many of these items. OR, for a gift of $1,000 (covering purchase cost, shipping from abroad and handling, plus Israeli customs tax) specifically earmarked for the Bounce castle fund, in addition to receiving a tax receipt, you can have a bounce castle set up in your honor in the city and community of your choice with your name engraved on a lovely commemorative plaque. Another possibility is that you can honor someone else by making your donation on their behalf so that their name appears on the plaque.

The bounce castles are only one element of this project. We need your help also to implement other sports programs and recreational activities geared to getting children and youth of all ages actively engaged in the business of HAVING FUN! If you have expertise in a particular sport or recreational activity (for example, rope jumping techniques, Double-Dutch, Frisbee, kite-building, skate boarding, juggling, gymnastics, dance, etc.) perhaps you would be interested in conducting an exhibition and training workshop for our Hugs kids. We are especially interested in Double-Dutch teams. If you don’t have any of these skills or if you are not able to travel here maybe you could provide the funds needed for us to implement these programs around the country. Your name would appear on the programs and announcements as one of the Hugs sponsors. However, upon your request, you could remain anonymous.

As you become involved in this far-reaching project, may the sweet sounds of joy wrap your heart with hugs.

Big Bubbler

In addition to the bounce castles for the younger children, we want to implement sports programs and recreational activities geared to getting children and youth of all ages actively engaged in the business of HAVING FUN! If you have expertise in a particular sports or recreational activy (ie, rope jumping, Double-Dutch, frizbee, kite-building, skate-boarding, etc.) and are planning to be in Israel, perhaps you would be interested in conducting an exhihition and workshop for our Hugs kids. If you don't have the skills or if you can't come here, maybe you could provide the funds needed for us to implement these programs around the country. As you become involved in this project, may the sound of their joy wrap your heart with hugs!