It was 6 p.m. in Israel when News 12 spoke with Nicole Hod – who was just unwinding from a long day at work.

Hod, who has cousins living in Scarsdale, works for the Mirage Foundation – a nonprofit specializing in the development of the southern region of Israel.

But the foundation is now focusing all of its efforts on bringing humanitarian aid to communities that need it the most.

About a half-million Israelis have been displaced since the war began, even those living on kibbutzim that weren't attacked.

"It's still intact but they cannot go back because everything surrounding the kibbutz is destroyed and is also now a military zone," says Hod.

 So they've been working to find housing, which has been a challenge because these families need to stay together.

"They were already coming out of the kibbutzim, which is such a strong community network and they want to stay together so their kids can talk to their friends," said Hod.

Not only are they helping families, but they are also helping soldiers.

"We're giving them support on how they can maintain that morale on the ground, some of them haven't seen their families since October 7th," she said.

This pivot that the Mirage Foundation has done may be impressive, but it isn't something special, Hod says. Everyone is mobilized. And they have to be.

"Because they understand that this is a threat to all of us and the only way for all of us to survive is to do something," she said.