Electric Car Strands Family on Holiday, Volunteer Rescue Saves Trip
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
A family's electric car broke down on their way to a vacation in the Dead Sea, leaving them stranded with young children. A volunteer from the "Yedidim" organization rescued them by providing emergency charging and ensuring their safe arrival at a charging station.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Family stranded with children due to electric car failure.
- Insurance company offered a four-hour wait for assistance.
- "Yedidim" volunteer provided emergency charging and escort.
- Family's vacation was saved, and they donated to the organization.
A family's planned vacation to the Dead Sea was thrown into crisis when their electric car suddenly stopped functioning near Arad. Michal Weitzman Pollak and her husband were traveling with their two young children, aged two and a half and four and a half, when the vehicle lost power. "The car started to slow down and stopped," Michal recounted, describing the stressful situation, especially with children in the car and dwindling water supplies under the heavy heat.
Attempts to contact their insurance company proved futile, with an estimated four-hour wait for assistance. In desperation, they reached out to the "Yedidim" organization, which specializes in helping stranded electric vehicles. Avi Kalbo, the northern Negev region manager for Yedidim and a volunteer, was the closest responder.
Kalbo prioritized the family's safety, moving them away from the busy roadside to a secure location before addressing the vehicle. He then used a portable emergency charging kit, donated by the Clalmobile group to Yedidim, to provide enough power for the car to reach a charging station. Kalbo accompanied the family to ensure they could safely connect and begin charging, preventing further issues.
The family expressed immense gratitude for the rescue, which turned a potentially disastrous situation into a manageable one. They subsequently made a donation to Yedidim, emphasizing that such contributions enable the organization's vital work. Kalbo, a retired Unit 8200 member and teacher, manages around 500 volunteers and finds satisfaction in ensuring families can continue their journeys safely.