Church lends supplies
VALENCIA — With the rising costs of medical equipment and health care, Valencia Presbyterian Church has begun to stockpile used medical equipment to help others in need.
As part of a new ministry, the church collected walkers, crutches, canes and wheelchairs over the past year for a medical lending closet. In April, a mini-barn was built behind the church offices to store the equipment.
The structure was built with funds donated by a church family.
Although the program has helped only a few people in recent months by loaning equipment, the church hopes to expand its equipment inventory and to get the word out to potential borrowers.
"With the dynamics of the neighborhood and our community, we as a church do a lot of kids programs. But the medical lending closet assists other generations — and especially with the cost of medical care these days," said church secretary Denise Smith, who is responsible for accepting donations and taking requests for equipment.
The program was started about a year ago by parishioner Gerry Hill, who brought the idea from a Presbyterian church he attended several years ago in Bluffton, S.C.
"The medical lending closet is one more way that (Valencia Presbyterian) can reach out to our generationally diverse community in a practical way," Hill said.
Most recently, the medical closet has been able to obtain a wheelchair that is being used by a Sarver cancer patient.
Several other donated wheelchairs will need to be repaired, and donated items not suitable for repair were sold for parts to help fund the program.
Smith said those who wish to borrow equipment should contact the church office. Borrowers don't need to demonstrate financial need, she added.
Equipment donations can be brought to the church at 80 Sterrett St. during scheduled office hours, or arrangements can be made to pick up equipment from the donor's home.
Receipts for all donations are available upon request.
The growing list of equipment will be updated on the Medical Lending Closet link on the church's Web site, www.valenciapresbyterian.com.
For more information on the program, call the church office at 724-625-2002 or contact Hill at 724-504-4420.
Here is the inventory of Valencia Presbyterian Church's medical lending closet at 80 Sterrett St.• Manual wheelchair• Power wheelchair• Chair on wheels• Shower stools• Bedside commodes• Semi-permanent toilet arm rest• Crutches• Walking canes• Four-prong cane• Folding walkers• Non-folding walkers• Foot or leg brace• Sock sleeve• Swing-out rail for hospital bed• Respironics nebulizer• Invacare envoy aerosol compressor• Pitch It IV pole• Pill organizers• Hospital bed air mattress• Stethoscope• Blood pressure monitor
