If you have a hospital bed, you no longer need, donating it would be the best thing to do. Once you donate your hospital bed, you will greatly help the ill-fated patients who struggle to meet the cost of an ordinary hospital bed. There are several people in the US to whom you can donate your hospital bed too. Some of these people are veterans.
Once you donate your hospital bed, you will help to reduce the financial stress on low-income veterans by providing improved comfort and care to them. Donating a hospital bed, you will also facilitate enhanced recovery by providing points for head, leg and backrests to the veterans using them. The good news is that there are a myriad of ways through which you can donate your hospital bed to sick veterans for their long term treatment. You can do this by yourself or donate through organizations that give donated hospital beds to the needy as giveaways. In this tutorial, we will examine factors you need to consider when donating a hospital bed to a veteran. Besides, we will discuss the procedure of hospital bed donations to veterans and organizations that donate these beds, among other important topics. Come with us!
What’s The Process Of Donating Hospital Beds To Veterans?
Identifying the right places or organizations to donate a hospital bed to reach the right person may be challenging. That is why you need the correct process to follow when donating the hospital bed. You can present the hospital bed directly to needy people or through an organization if in good condition. Are you willing to donate a hospital bed, and you are stranded on the best way to go? Panic no more. Here is the step-by-step process of donating hospital beds to the veteran that will guide you to a successful donation.
1. Search for organizations accepting donations in your area
Several organizations give medical donations to veterans in the United States. These organizations mainly depend on people to donate hospital beds and other medical equipment to keep the charity running. Such organizations accept donations like hospital beds and wheelchairs, among other medical equipment, and give them to needy veterans. Some organizations where you can donate your hospital bed include Med-Eq, churches, Red Cross, and clinics. Additionally, you can search the organizations by googling or asking your friends about organizations to donate to the hospital bed.
2. Contact the organization you got
It is essential to contact the organization you have chosen before donating your hospital bed. This is because different organizations usually have different policies on accepting donations. The organization will elaborate on what it takes to donate a hospital bed to them, increasing the chances of acceptance. Most of these organizations usually have toll-free hotline numbers that you can contact. For example, you can visit local offices to donate to a church near your residence. So, kindly contact them before you proceed with the donation process.
3. Determine the condition of your hospital bed
It would be best if you donated a hospital bed in good condition for it to be accepted by the organization you are giving to. In most cases, the organizations receiving medical equipment only will take the equipment if it is in good condition. This is usually to ensure that the hospital bed you donate will help the veteran in need. Besides, a hospital bed in good shape helps you and is always safe and effective for the person using it.
So, if your bed requires some repair, you must ensure that it gets repaired before donating. No organization will fix the hospital bed for you; otherwise, they will reject it. Finally, ensure that the bed is clean before presenting it to the organization, as that is a requirement.
4. Arrange the hospital bed transportation
After ensuring that all your bed meets all the conditions, the next stage is transporting them to the organization. Some organizations will arrange and pick the hospital bed donation their organization. However, not all of them will do that, and you may be required to agree to ship the hospital bed to the organization. Some factors like the distance involved may affect the organization’s shipment of the hospital bed from your location to them.
5. Get a donation receipt
After you have donated the hospital bed, you need proof that you donated it. Almost every organization issues a receipt letter to show that you donated medical equipment to them. It is good to note that hospital beds and other durable medical equipment are tax deductible for all US residents. However, kindly note that the donations must be made to an organization and get proof.
Donating hospital beds to veterans may differ in different organizations and states in the United States. That is why contacting the organization prior is crucial to find out specific requirements and procedures. Besides, you can opt to give your relatives who may need the hospital bed if the process becomes too complicated for you. Sometimes you may have a needy relative near you, so you must search before giving the hospital bed away.
Factors To Consider When Donating Hospital Beds To Veterans
As seen earlier, there is a process primarily dependent on the organization receiving the donation you must follow when donating the hospital bed. This section will discuss the factors you must consider when donating a hospital bed to veterans. Continue reading till the end.
1. The hospital bed condition
As mentioned above, many organizations will only accept donations of medical equipment that are in good working condition. Your hospital bed must be in good working condition and clean before you present it to the organization. You might be forced to repair the bed if it is in bad shape and ensure it is fully functional.
2. The size and type of hospital bed the organization requires
In most cases, different organizations have different bed sizes and type requirements that need you to donate. For instance, some organizations may require full-size hospital beds, while others may require portable beds. So, it is good to know which type of hospital bed the organization accepts before you proceed to donate one to them. Liaise with customer service and inquire about the kind of hospital bed you can donate to the organization.
3. The location of the organization
As seen above, some organizations may arrange the hospital bed shipment or request you to do so. Depending on the organization’s location, it may cost you more to ship the hospital bed than to give it to another organization near you. So, the location of the organization you donate to affects you hugely and is a factor you need to consider before donating.
4. The organization’s procedures and policies
Although most donating policies and procedures are similar in many organizations, there is always a slight difference. So, you must ensure that you inquire about these before you donate the hospital bed for a smooth process. The best way of doing the same is by contacting the organizations or reading their policies online on their official website.
5. Transport cost
Many organizations that accept donations typically collect such donations, especially medical equipment like hospital beds. However, some organizations may request you to pay for the shipment of the hospital bed to the organization. In most cases, this may not happen as the most reputed organizations do have ways of collecting donations from the donors. So, ensure that you have all the resources needed to complete your hospital bed donation in case the organization does not collect.
6. Tax deductions
Everyone in the country needs to get tax relief through deductions, and donating a hospital bed provides that platform for you. Once you donate the hospital bed, kindly ensure that you get a donation receipt that you can present for a tax deduction. Donating the hospital bed to individuals directly may not earn you tax deductions. So, once you donate to the organization, get the donation receipt and send it to IRS for the tax deduction.
Places That Deal With Hospital Bed Donations
Everyone wants to make an impact, primarily those who cannot afford to buy hospital beds. Several organizations are available to receive your hospital bed and give it to a veteran who needs it. However, before you donate the hospital bed, we recommend contacting some local places to see if they need it. Such places include;
- Local hospitals and doctors.
- Local charity organizations.
- Local churches.
- Veteran’s Affairs Local chapters.
You can also look at other local areas we did not mention above and donated the hospital bed. However, if you cannot find a local place to donate, here are some of the organizations you can donate the hospital bed;
1. Good Health Will
Good Health Will is a non-profit organization that ensures everyone gets proper treatment. When people get the appropriate treatment, they enjoy the proper medication with durable medical equipment. Good Health Will ensures this is possible by accepting donations from people like hospital beds and medical supplies.
Once Good Health Will receives the donations, it ensures they are given to the people who cannot afford or buy them. Additionally, they usually ensure that such people get financial assistance for their medication. You can visit their website at goodhealthwill.org and learn more about donating your hospital bed to them.
2. Veterans Outreach Center
Veterans Outreach Center is a popular organization known for receiving medical equipment donations like canes, walkers, and hospital beds. You can also donate wheelchairs, shower chairs, and motorized scooters, as their website lists. This is good news for veterans who cannot afford or buy hospital beds, as Veterans Outreach helps them get and live a better life.
You can reach out to the Veterans Outreach Center via their official website, which can be found by googling. Open your favorite browser, search veteransoutreachcenter.org and find detailed information on how to donate to them.
3. Med-Eq
Med-Eq is one organization that provides the link between organizations and hospital bed donors. Its primary mandate is to sort out the best organizations available in the country that can give good hospital beds. Such organizations serve the local communities and overseas with durable hospital bed equipment.
How can I donate through Med-Eq? The donation process is simple and easy and can be done by emailing Med-Eq and making arrangements for the hospital bed pick-up. The good news is that Med-Eq allows individuals, families, and non-profit organizations to donate to them. The main agenda is to ensure that there is more to give to needy veterans who cannot afford hospital beds.
4. Project C.U.R.E
Project C.U.R.E was founded in 1987, and since then, it has provided medical help to the needy across the country. The primary focus of Project C.U.R.E is the hospital and clinics that run out of medical supplies like hospital beds and are in need. Project C.U.R.E typically receives medical equipment donations from individuals or healthcare professionals and then donates the equipment to the clinics. They also allow donations from medical equipment manufacturers across the world.
Project C.U.R.E has built trust among donors across the globe, and there is an assurance of trusting them. You can donate your hospital bed to Project C.U.R.E and help a patient suffering somewhere in a hospital or clinic. Kindly open your browser and search projectcure.org/take-action/donate/donate-medical-equipment-supplies to get more information on its donation.
5. American Medical Resources Foundation
If you have once visited a hospital during the outbreak of disease, you can understand when you see a hospital needing a hospital bed. The American Medical Resources Foundation is an organization that mainly deals with free hospital beds. Hospital bed donation is one of the most noble works you can do because hospitals need beds worldwide.
The American Medical Resources Foundation allows individuals to donate medical equipment like hospital beds to them. To donate, you need to visit their official website at charitynavigator.org/ein/222939305. Additionally, you call their hotline number and get to know their donation policies and procedures before you start. Once satisfied, you will need to send the hospital bed or arrange with the organization to pick it up on your behalf.
What Types Of Beds Are Not Acceptable To Donate To Veterans?
Every organization has policies and procedures for donating medical equipment, such as hospital beds. Most organizations do not accept worn-out and damaged hospital beds that may be unsafe to use by the patients. The hospital bed you donate must be clean and not used for long for it to be accepted by the receiving organization.
To avoid rejection of your hospital bed donation, kindly contact the organization before and inquire about their donation policies. Also, ensure that your donation is in good condition and clean before you donate it.
Is Hospital Bed Donations To Veterans Tax Deductible?
Yes. Donating a hospital bed to veterans is typically an outstanding achievement, and it takes much inspiration for you to do the same. The good news is that once you donate a hospital bed, it is tax deductible. The government usually helps you on such a subject during the tax return period. The support on tax deduction you receive from the government is available from the organization to which you donated the hospital bed. Once you donate the hospital bed, the organization typically gives you a donation receipt as proof of the process. You must submit the tax deduction receipt to the IRS for a deduction to get a tax deduction. Kindly note that you get assistance from the organization’s authority on the tax deduction process.