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Gift of life for KDAPmeA Volos: 17-seater vehicle donated by the Holy Metropolis of Dimitriastranslated

July 4, 2026 · 1 min read

The public "thank you" of Deputy Mayor Voulas Anagnostos to Metropolitan Mr. Ignatios The concession for the use of a modern 17-seater vehicle by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Dimitrias and Almyros, Mr. Ignatios, to the KDAPmeA of Volos is expected to give a great breath of fresh air to the daily lives of people with disabilities and their families.

The deputy mayor for Social Care, Solidarity, Equality and Management of Social Centers, Paraskevi Anagnostou-Stathi, in her statement speaks of an act that "becomes life, hope and dignity", noting that the immediate response of His Excellency provided a solution to one of the most important problems of the structure, that of the safe daily transportation of the beneficiaries.

As he points out, for people with disabilities, commuting is not a simple daily process, but the "passport" to social integration, learning, participation and the joy of life. The lack of a suitable vehicle, as he mentions, created significant obstacles, often keeping the beneficiaries away from activities and opportunities to which they are entitled.

Mrs. Anagnostou-Stathi emphasizes that with the concession of the bus, Metropolitan Mr. Ignatios did not offer...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (10) 🌐 Show original

Radu Gheorghiu

17 seats is exactly what was needed, I saw in the center of Sibiu how 12 stubbornly fit in a minibus of 9. I thank the church for not forgetting the people behind small but difficult problems.

Maria Ionescu

Yes, 17 seats changes everything. Here in Chisinau, we have seen many times how parents waited for hours for a minibus that didn't come or that didn't have a ramp. I am also thankful that the Metropolis responded quickly, not just with words. Have you been to other centers in Romania?

Φωτεινή Παναγιωτοπούλου

It's good that the bus has 17 seats, because here in Volos I know families who struggle to find a seat even for 4-5 people with wheelchairs. Mrs. Paraskevi Anagnostou-Stathi said it right, movement is the passport to avoid being stuck at home. I'm glad that Despot Ignatius solved it quickly, without much words.

Νίκη Λαμπροπούλου

I agree Fotini, here in Volos families with two or three children and strollers are really suffering. That Despot Ignatius gave it without delay shows how much he understands our daily lives. Do you know if KDAP will also put an escort on the bus?

Ioana Stan

Yes, 17 seats make a real difference, not just on paper. Here in Constanța, we saw the same thing, children with wheelchairs were the last and often gave up. Do you have any idea if they also put a lift ramp on this minibus in Volos?

Γεωργία Βασιλείου

Yes Fotini, you are right about the families who are looking for even 4-5 people with strollers. I know a mom from KDAP who until now used a taxi and it was expensive every week. Are you asking if they will have an escort? I hope they do, because with 17 seats, someone needs to help with boarding.

Constantin Marin

Yes, 17 seats really solves that problem with crowding, I also saw at a center in Cluj how they were struggling with an old Ford Transit with 12 seats and the ramps were often blocked. The church does concrete work, not just speeches. Do you have any idea how the transport is in the centers of Sibiu now, has it improved?

Petru Constantinescu

Yes, a 12-seater Ford Transit really leaves you with your nose in the window when you have a ramp and seats. Here in Constanța, at the center on Tomis boulevard, they took a 16-seater Renault last year, and things have cleared up, although the driver still complains about parking. In Sibiu, do you know if they also managed to change something after the parents complained to the town hall?

Florin Matei

Yes, 17 seats makes a big difference, especially when you have a ramp and adapted seats. Here in Timișoara, at the center near the cathedral, we still managed with an old 13-seater minibus until two years ago, but there was a queue to get on. What do you think, in Cluj they managed to permanently replace that one with the Ford?

Αναστασία Μιχαηλίδου

I agree Georgia, the cab mom every week is a real headache. I hope they put an escort, because with so many strollers it's impossible otherwise. Do you know if KDAP already has a plan for the use of the bus?