More Than 2,060 People Donated Health Equipment to St. Louis HELP

January 9, 2018, St. Louis, Missouri…The St. Louis Health Equipment Lending Program (St. Louis HELP) is starting off 2018 with a heavy load since more than 2,060 people donated a total of 11,279 home medical items to the not-for-profit organization in 2017.

The charitable group cleans and revitalizes new and used home medical equipment for free loans to children, adults and seniors suffering from accidents, illness or disability, and has begun the benevolent process to loan thousands of home health devices to people in 2018.(http://www.stlhelp.org)

“We are extremely lucky that in addition to our skilled staff we are largely assisted by volunteers who work more than 2,300 hours each year at our warehouse – without them we couldn’t survive.”

All equipment donations to St. Louis HELP are tax deductible. “We collect about 11,000 items of donated home health equipment annually,” Cannon-Singer said. “We revitalize it for loans or recycle unusable devices. If any equipment is not good enough for your grandmother to use, we won’t loan it out,” she said.

“In 2017 we diverted more than 170 tons of equipment from landfills – including home health devices that were loaned, items sent to needy organizations in other countries, and broken parts that we recycled.”

“We are fortunate that our volunteers are from every walk of life – from students to working people and executives, retirees and more. Everyone seems to have a special skill or knowledge that they offer. St. Louis HELP is truly blessed,” Cannon-Singer said.

No matter what home health item people may need, St. Louis HELP probably has it. The group loans manual and power wheelchairs, scooters, canes, crutches, walkers, shower chairs, grab bars, elevated toilet seats, portable commodes, lift chairs, seating cushions, back supports, folding ramps, stair lifts and almost any other type of medical device. Child-sized and super-sized items are often available.

“We assist hundreds of people every month,” Cannon-Singer said. “Calls to our warehouse for equipment loans and donor inquiries are increasing – we handled 18, 319 incoming calls in 2017 compared to 16,867 calls in 2016.

Here’s what people say about St. Louis HELP:

Marie L., age 80: “I’m glad that there is St. Louis HELP to help people in need as I am. I could never afford this equipment and Medicare won’t pay for it. Thank you.”

Rachel V., age 55: “The wheelchair you loaned me is in beautiful condition. Yesterday was the first day in weeks that I left my house for anything other than a doctor’s appointment. With deep gratitude for St. Louis HELP.”

Doug F. and Joyce C., age 56: “After our car accident, St Louis HELP provided us with all of the equipment we needed. We love our friends at St. Louis HELP for all you do!”

As a small, independent nonprofit group, St. Louis HELP relies on financial donations and grants from caring individuals, and from businesses and community organizations, to support its benevolent mission.

Every dollar donated to St. Louis HELP turns into $10.67 of benefit for people of all ages in greater St. Louis who rely on our free loans of home medical equipment.

To support St. Louis HELP with a tax-deductible financial donation, please send your check to St. Louis HELP, 1640 Andrew Drive, St. Louis, MO 63122. If you need free loans of home health equipment, call (314) 567-4700.

Please see the website http://stlhelp.org/ for more information.