For Tziona Mahed, a resident of Azor, a small city southeast of Tel Aviv, planning a family vacation is no small feat. Tziona uses a wheelchair, and last summer every detail was in place: the hotels were booked, and she was ready for a long-awaited getaway to Eilat with her children and grandchildren. On the night before her trip, Tziona became severely ill and was rushed to the hospital, forcing her family to cancel their vacation at the last minute.

“I was deeply disappointed,” Tziona recalls. “I had been looking forward to it so much, but I simply couldn’t go.”

Months later, refusing to let her mobility challenges have the final say, Tziona called Yad Sarah’s Accessible Van Service — a fleet of specially modified, wheelchair-accessible vehicles equipped with heavy-duty lifts and secure locking mechanisms, driven by dedicated volunteers.

The trip to Israel’s southernmost city demands patience and sensitivity. Route 90, the main highway to Eilat, is one of the country’s most notoriously dangerous roads, with narrow, poorly marked stretches that frequently cause accidents. Yad Sarah’s specially trained volunteer drivers handled every moment of the journey with steady, seamless care.

“The [Accessible Van] team helped me board, took incredible care of me throughout the journey, and made as many stops as I needed,” Tziona shared. “They accommodated all of my needs.”

Yad Sarah’s specially trained, experienced volunteer drivers handled every moment with care.

“My children kept telling me, ‘Look at the patience they have,’” said Tziona. “They help me get in and out, wait for me, and assist with everything. Traveling with Yad Sarah’s vehicles is simply much more comfortable.”

Tziona now frequently relies on Yad Sarah’s Accessible Van service for routine checkups at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. “Every single time, I know I am in good hands,” she says.

Yad Sarah’s Accessible Van Service completes more than 26,500 trips annually, ensuring that people with mobility needs can travel safely and comfortably to destinations across Israel. Whether to medical appointments, family celebrations, well-deserved vacations, or other essential outings, Yad Sarah’s volunteer drivers are ready to offer a ride.

“It is not something to be taken for granted. [The volunteers] do it completely from the heart,” said Tziona. “For me, this is not just a ride — it is the chance to be with my family, get where I need to go, and feel that I am not giving up on living life to the fullest.”