Yad Sarah tourist service assists Duggars

When traveling in Israel, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s youngest child was in need of special equipment. Famous for their Arkansas-based family of 19 children (10 boys and 9 girls), they were assisted by Yad Sarah in a big way.

After hiking in northern Israel and touring Jerusalem, the family was preparing to return home when their special needs daughter, 21-month-old Josie, became ill and needed oxygen.

Like everyone in Israel, their guide, Aviv, knew exactly where to go. Aviv brought the family to Yad Sarah House in Jerusalem and they immediately were supplied with a small oxygen tank and accessories.

Known as the largest volunteer-staffed organization in Israel, Yad Sarah’s Lending Service stocks a full range of medical and home care equipment. Through its active Lending Service, the organization’s volunteers lend over 150 different kinds of equipment from its 100+ branches; services are also available to visitors.

Duggar family (Photo: TLC)

Yad Sarah has rescued virtually thousands of tourists with their personalized service, even meeting people at the airport with an accessible van, providing accessible transportation to special events, or equipping a tourist’s hotel room with adaptive equipment to make their stay more comfortable.

People in Israel as well as tourists borrow everything from canes and walkers to oxygen tanks, wheelchairs and apnea monitors.

“It was so fast. He immediately set out with an oxygen tank," said Michelle Duggar of the volunteer staffing the Lending desk. She remained in Israel with her 20-year-old daughter Jill until Josie recuperated. But then they had to return to Yad Sarah to replace a part, and the Duggars were swiftly on their way.

A camera crew followed them during their visit to Yad Sarah, presumably to air on the family’s hit reality television show, "19 Kids and Counting," broadcast on TLC. The family was given a tour of the facilities and watched the introductory film at the Visitor’s Center.

“Michelle admired the organization and activities! They took pictures of the loan process, and of course Yad Sarah’s programs,” said Adele Goldberg, executive director of Friends of Yad Sarah.

"Yad Sarah, what an amazing organization! You were a lot of help when we were in Israel!" said Michelle Duggar.

For information on borrowing equipment for use as a tourist in Israel, visit www.friendsofyadsarah.org or contact shalom@friendsofyadsarah.org .

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