Couple from Haifa to Donate Their Vehicle to Lone IDF Soldier

A post published on Facebook asking for help in locating a recipient has already received hundreds of responses.

Andrey and Tatiana Shpak, a couple from Haifa, decided to give away their vehicle to a lone IDF soldier instead of selling it for thousands of shekels. A post in which they called on friends to help them find the soldier in need has already received hundreds of responses and comments.

When they put their vehicle on sale last week, there were already people interested in it. But this morning, after taking the car for treatment, a licensing test and a wash, Andrey, who was born in Russia and served in the IDF, suddenly came up with the idea. “My wife immediately agreed. She said it’s a wonderful deed,” he told Channel 2 News.

The couple’s car may not be luxurious – a white 1993-model Toyota Corolla – but it could be a big help for a soldier in need of transportation. Andrey wrote on Facebook: “Dear friends. My wife and I would be happy to hand over our car to a lone soldier in Israel. It’s a little old but drives perfectly, has a licensing test and requires no investment. We’d be very happy if you assisted us in finding someone who really needs it.”

“I posted the ad in the morning and more than a hundred soldiers contacted me, as well as people who contacted me on behalf of soldiers,” Andrey stated. “I did not expect to receive so many appeals.” Andrey, a project manager by occupation, and his wife Tatiana, a clothing store manager, own two cars and so decided to give one as a gift “because we aren’t in need”.

“The issue of lone soldiers has come up lately and it touched our hearts,” Andrey explained. Now they face the toughest decision of all - who to award the vehicle to - as there are already several candidates.