Known in its earlier years as "Holy Land Christian Mission," Children International was founded in 1936. The organization distributed food baskets to widows and poor families, provided early childhood education and operated a small medical clinic as well as a children’s home for orphans. This clinic was expanded following a polio outbreak in 1952 and became larger and more sophisticated over the years. Eventually known as the Mt. David Crippled Children’s Hospital, the clinic provided critical orthopedic medical services until its closure.