Where can I donate Medical Equipment?
Where can I donate shower benches? Commodes?
Where can I donate wheelchairs? Walkers? Beds?
Where can I donate prosthetic devices?*
Contributors:
Janet K. Thomason, Director of National Procurement, Project C.U.R.E.
Mark Waterson, Chief Executive Officer, Convalescent Aid Society
John Goodale, Pastor of Caring Ministries, First Presbyterian Church Colorado Springs
Aaron Burnell, Amputee Coalition
Luke West, Global Links
The good news is…
There’s a small army of passionate individuals dedicated to finding placement for medical equipment, new and used. The other good news is with the following information, you can get supply to these people. The equipment moves along and does life-changing good. Win-win-win.
Also, soft medical supplies, bandages, Gauze Pads, Oxygen tubing, diapers, chux are sought and accepted by organizations that work to supply them to where they can be used.
Equipment that is broken needs to be discarded and not donated, as it will waste the thin resources of these largely volunteer and donation-supported organizations.
Durable Medical Equipment generally accepted
(Please check with individual donation organizations before donating.)
- Walkers, Crutches, and Canes
- Shower Benches
- Hoyer Lifts
- Home Health Beds
- Commodes
- Nebulizers
- Consumable/”Soft” Medical Supplies
The Check Around
It’s worth a check around your area to find any local centers that transition used medical equipment into 2nd use supply.
Churches, local not-for-profits, municipal resources, or libraries may know of local organizations that do this.
Global Links
700 Trumbull Dr. Pittsburgh, PA 15205 (Greentree)
(412) 361-3424
www.globallinks.org
As a medical surplus recovery organization, Global Links, has tasked itself with the collection, inspection, and distribution through domestic and international channels. In the USA, Global Links reaches individuals through free and charitable clinics, and other not-for-profits. Internationally the organization reaches underserved communities in Nicaragua, Bolivia, Cuba and other Latin American countries, conducting 30-35 humanitarian medical projects a year. The organization also works with the medical community, moving 300 tons of medical furnishings and equipment annually.
Over 1000 volunteers work to accomplish the 501c3’s works. In 2020 Global Links celebrated its 30th year.
Drop-off? Yes. (But only during hours of operation)
Mail in? Yes. (See address above. See ‘Donation information’ below)
Donation information: www.globallinks.org/donate/medical-supplies
Charity Navigator: www.charitynavigator.org/GlogalLinks
Project C.U.R.E.
10377 East Geddes Avenue, Suite 200, Centennial, CO 80112
tel: (303) 792-0729
www.projectcure.org
Working with clinics and hospitals in over 130 countries, Project C.U.R.E. mobilizes 27,000 volunteers in their efforts to drive U.S. medical surplus into under-resourced regions, making a significant impact on each area’s healthcare.
“We can expand and improve healthcare around the world by redirecting our surplus. We’re sending gold. We’re sending a privacy curtain to help individuals maintain their dignity in vulnerable times. We’re sending a bed that provides someone a place to heal. When a donor sends a couple of gently used wheelchairs it seems like no big deal to them. We share those two wheelchairs with a facility that has 700 beds and two wheelchairs. The donor may not realize the difference they made; they just doubled the number of that facility’s wheelchairs.”
– Janet Thomason – National Director for Procurement
At the time of publication, Project C.U.R.E. was filling two emergency containers; one to Uganda and another to India. The organization sent 183 cargo containers in 2020. The organization prides itself on a scarcity of bells and whistles, a lean 2.9% of revenue operating budget and reputation and word of mouth in place of marketing spend.
Mail in? Yes. (See address above.)
Drop-off? Yes.
Project C.U.R.E. Distribution Centers are locations where we can accept donations, and where we prepare and distribute medical equipment and supplies across the world. Distribution Centers have a big need for individuals or groups to donate their time to help us accomplish our mission. Collection Centers are locations that only accept donations of supplies.
projectcure.org/about-us/locations
Donation information: projectcure.org/take-action/donate/donate-medical-equipment-supplies/individuals
Charity Navigator: www.charitynavigator.org/ProjectC.U.R.E.
Convalescent Aid Society
3255 East Foothill Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91107
tel: (626) 793-1696
www.convalescentaidsociety.com
Begun in 1923 to provide the free loan of durable medical equipment, the Convalescent Aid Society is a true pioneer. Donors are encouraged to drive up during business hours. Serves Pasadena and the greater San Gabriel Valley, including Burbank, Glendale, and La Canada Flintridge.
List of items accepted and distributed:
www.convalescentaidsociety.com/items-for-loan
Drop-off? Yes. (During hours of operation)
Mail in? Yes. (See address above.)
Charity Navigator: www.charitynavigator.org/CAS
Amputee Coalition
While the Amputee Coalition does not have a donation and recycling program as their good works are focused in other areas, we’d like to acknowledge the Amputee Coalition of American for their assistance in the research of this article.
They suggest the following three resources to direct your search…
National Assistive Technology Act – Technical Assistance and Training Center
This link goes to a page with state-by-state resources for the donation of used medical equipment and supplies. Frankly, some states’ resources lists are better than others.
Program Directory – Find Your State Program
Select your State and ‘Device Reutilization’
www.at3center.net/stateprogram
Administration for Community Living: Assistive Technology
The State Grant for Assistive Technology Program supports state efforts to improve the provision of assistive technology to individuals with disabilities of all ages through comprehensive, statewide programs that are consumer-responsive. The State Grant for Assistive Technology Program makes assistive technology devices and services more available and accessible to individuals with disabilities and their families.
www.acl.gov/programs/assistive-technology/assistive-technology
Other Organizations & Links:
Medwish – Cleveland, Ohio
www.medwish.org/give
Medshare – Atlanta, Georgia
www.medshare.org/donate-medical-supplies
AFYA – New York, New York
www.afyafoundation.org/donate-supplies
Medical Bridges – Houston, Texas
www.medicalbridges.org/donate
Note!
Your contribution may be tax-deductible!
Discuss with your accountant or advisor. The above organizations will acknowledge your donation but will not assign a value. See Also …
https://executorium.com/links/irs-determining-value-of-donated-property/
See Also:
* Where can I donate prosthetic devices?
Guide to Donation of Prosthetic Equipment
Unused Medical Supplies and Equipment: National Council on Aging Guide