Medical Equipment Loan Program
Relief on Loan: Access to Free Durable Medical Equipment for Children and Adults
The variety of durable medical equipment available for loan at no cost in AbleCloset and Medical Equipment Loan Program (MELP)’s San Carlos warehouse is beyond impressive. The shelves lining the storage room walls are full of bathing chairs, walkers, and crutches.
Various mobility equipment at the Medical Equipment Loan Program and AbleCloset
In the middle of the room, bright colored standers to aid children in walking on their own—some for the very first time—and other mobility devices are lined up for perusing. Friendly volunteers welcome visitors on Wednesday afternoons for equipment drop-offs and new donations, and on Saturday mornings, they assist people in selecting the right equipment to take home.
AbleCloset, founded in 2008 by a special needs parent, loans specialized medical equipment to children with disabilities. MELP, which provides adults and seniors with vital, durable medical equipment to improve their quality of life, came into being in 2021. The Belmont Redwood Shores and San Carlos Rotary Clubs and Villages of San Mateo County provided the initial volunteers and funding, along with a two-thousand-dollar grant in 2022 from the Community Foundation of San Carlos, to get MELP off the ground.
The two organizations share the mission to provide medical equity, improve lives, and help the environment by re-use and recycling durable medical equipment while serving two distinct populations—children and adults. They merged in 2023, strengthening their commitment to redirecting unwanted durable medical equipment and giving it a new life for those who need it. The combined organization was awarded Community Foundation of San Carlos grant funding again in 2023.
The Community Foundation of San Carlos awards unrestricted grants that can be used for operations and are not tied to a specific program, unlike many other grant programs. Our grants allow non-profits flexibility in how they use the money, trusting them to use it in an impactful way.
Volunteer board of director member Norm Torello says they were looking for a permanent address for their operations. “The grant money helps stabilize us enough to where we qualify to lease this 2,000-foot space. We’ve continued to get additional donations to have a cash reserve that protects our ability to rent for a year,” says Torello. From their current location, they can accept donations and loan equipment all in one spot.
Since combining forces, the organization’s impact on the community over the last two years has been massive. MELP has served about 1,300 clients, loaning out 2,600 items with a total retail value of about $144,000. AbleCloset sees a lower demand, somewhere between 130 to 260 children, but the dollar amount per piece of equipment loaned is much higher. There is no restriction on who can borrow the equipment, but eighty-five percent of participants live in San Mateo County.
At an individual level, having access to free and easily available medical equipment is a real lifesaver. Whether dealing with insurance processing hiccups, trying out new equipment, or being unable to afford it, MELP and AbleCloset freely hand out what’s in stock. Touching client testimonials like these are plentiful:
“When he fell and broke his hip, the equipment loans were incredibly helpful to his recovery.”
“I am low income, and by having access to needed supplies, it allowed my money to be spent instead on food and rent.”
Volunteers experience the profound satisfaction of helping outfit someone with the equipment they need and providing them with peace of mind and a sense of extreme relief. Torello says, “You see the joy you bring to people; it warms you up, and you want to do whatever you can.”
Find out how to volunteer with AbleCloset and MELP, how to donate durable medical equipment, or when to stop by to pick up equipment at https://ablecloset.com/ and https://www.freemedequip.org/.
Grant History
$9,000 to the Medical Equipment Lending Program (MELP) who lend durable medical equipment to adults and disabled children; funds will pay rent for the facility and help raise additional funds. (Fall 2023)
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$2,000 granted to the Belmont-Redwood Shores Rotary Club for offering a Medical Equipment Lending Program (MELP) to all community members across the peninsula. (Fall 2022)