Yad Sarah volunteers work hardest before Pessah

Voluntary organization reports a three-fold increase in the borrowing of medical equipment for home use during the upcoming holidays.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
wheelchair 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski/The Jerusalem Post))
wheelchair 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski/The Jerusalem Post))
Yad Sarah reported on Thursday a three-fold increase in the borrowing of medical equipment for home use during the upcoming holidays.
The voluntary organization’s central storehouse has been transferring needed equipment to its more than 100 branches, with wheelchairs the most popular as families invite elderly relatives from old age homes and other institutions to their homes for the Pessah Seder.
Other items much in demand that are being lent out are thousands of oxygen canisters, walkers, hospital beds and pulleys to help people out of bed; all of these are worth hundreds of thousands of shekels, all purchased with donations.
As Pessah is the major holiday when families want to be together, the period is the most hectic for Yad Sarah. The number of reservations for the 40 Nechonit vans to transport the disabled in wheelchairs around has been large.
Meanwhile, Yad Sarah is distributing via its website () a special Haggada for the visually impaired, printed in large letters.
The 67-page book was produced by Da’at, the Center for Jewish Studies of the Herzog College.
Dozens of Yad Sarah branches will be open on the eve of Pessah, on Monday, and during the intermediate days of the holiday. For more information and branches and opening times, call *6444 or visit the website.